Right about now, we all need a laugh and to remember those who made us laugh. The late, great Gilda Radner was the queen of that. She found a way to mine humor from everything life threw at her. “Gilda knew that if you could laugh at yourself… you can get through,” said Tribeca VP Paula Weinstein. So thank God for Lisa D’Apolito’s feature film debut “Love, Gilda” which gives viewers an intimate look into Radner’s life.
As one of the original seven members of “Saturday Night Live,” Radner left an impression on the show that can still be seen today. One can just take a look at the murderer’s row of comedy talents appearing throughout the film to see that. Bill Hader, Amy Poehler, Melissa McCarthy, Lorne Michaels, Chevy Chase, Michael Radner, Maya Rudolph, Stephen Schwartz, Paul Shaffer, Martin Short, Rosie Shuster, and Cecily Strong all show up to talk about her. As you can see in the new trailer, some are sharing stories and others are reading Radner’s own writings.
D’Apolito’s film opened the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year where she spoke about Radner being a pioneer for female comedians. “Gilda felt equal to men. She could be up there with John Belushi and all these guys and if it wasn’t working her way, she’d would find a way to make it work.”
“Love, Gilda” will be available on VOD and in select theaters on September 21.
The official synopsis and latest trailer are below:
“Love, Gilda” opens a unique window into the honest and whimsical world of beloved performer Gilda Radner, whose greatest role was sharing her story. Working with the Radner estate, D’Apolito unearthed a collection of diaries and personal audio and videotapes documenting her childhood, her comedy career, her relationships and ultimately, her struggles with cancer. These never-before-seen-or-heard footage and journal entries from the narrative spine of the documentary, allowing Gilda to tell her own story – through laughter and sometimes tears.