The Last Laugh (2016 film)

The Last Laugh is a 2016 American documentary film directed by Ferne Pearlstein about whether jokes about the Holocaust can ever be funny.[1]

The Last Laugh
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFerne Pearlstein
Written byRobert Edwards
Ferne Pearlstein
CinematographyAnne Etheridge
Ferne Pearlstein
Edited byFerne Pearlstein
Release dates
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

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Is the Holocaust funny? This documentary looks at the taboo topic of humor, delving deep into pop-culture to find out where to draw the line, and whether that is a desirable—or even possible—goal. Much of the film is centered around Auschwitz survivor Renée Firestone who discusses humor in the concentration camps and finding enjoyment in life after the war.

Cast

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All appearing as themselves
Archive footage

Release

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The Last Laugh premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 18, 2016.[2]

Critical reception

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The Last Laugh has earned very high critical praise.[3][4] The film has a score of 98% on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 46 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "The Last Laugh takes a fresh -- and unexpectedly funny -- approach to sensitive subject matter, uncovering affecting insights about the nature of comedy along the way."[5]

References

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  1. ^ "The Last Laugh". The Film Collaborative. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  2. ^ Jule Rozite. "The Last Laugh". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  3. ^ Dennis Harvey (May 19, 2016). "Film Review: 'The Last Laugh'". Variety. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  4. ^ Kenneth Turan (March 16, 2017). "Review 'The Last Laugh' asks if there's anything taboo in comedy anymore". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  5. ^ "The Last Laugh". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
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