Love, Gilda

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Love, Gilda
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Love, Gilda is a documentary about the legacy of Gilda Radner. Radner was a comic at a time when not many women entered the profession, so her story offers viewers an example of perseverance, courage, and the power of representation in media. Some jokes may raise a few eyebrows, like a skit in which a man and woman wake up seemingly nude in bed and discuss how "it" was for both of them, or a sketch in which Howdy Doody has died via suicide. Language is infrequent but includes "hell," "s--t," "f--k," and "bitch." There's a brief moment of nonsexual nudity in which a man's nude buttocks are visible in a photo. Vintage video and photos depict smoking, and Radner mentions that she was given Dexedrine as a diet pill when she was a child. The film also discusses Radner's eating disorder and shows her declining during her ultimately fatal battle with cancer.
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What's the Story?
LOVE, GILDA shines a spotlight on the life of groundbreaking comic and actress Gilda Radner. Using a wealth of vintage footage -- TV interviews, movie performances, Saturday Night Live sketches, home movies -- and interviews with current comic greats like Bill Hader, Melissa McCarthy, and Amy Poehler, the documentary paints a whimsical, moving portrait of a performer who left the world laughing and was gone far too soon.
Is It Any Good?
As funny, tender, and ultimately heartbreaking as its subject, this earnest documentary traces a life well lived, if sadly cut short. Filmmaker Lisa D'Apolito must have been excited to find that Radner kept a lifelong diary and that her family used a film camera to record young Gilda's antics. Scenes in which the bright-eyed young girl hams it up in her backyard make it clear that Radner had a comedic fire in her belly from an early age. And, of course, there's plenty of footage from Radner's SNL years, which aptly illustrate both her comic timing and the impact she made in a traditionally male field at a particularly hot moment for American feminism.
One of the strongest points that Love, Gilda makes is how powerful Radner's representation was for today's female comedy stars. "I basically stole all my characters from Gilda," says Poehler. And "Sometimes I wonder if it's why I'm so physical because I just grew up watching her so intensely," says McCarthy. Even more movingly, viewers learn that Radner was hospitalized for an (unspecified) eating disorder, struggled with feelings of worthlessness, and that she and Gene Wilder fell madly in love almost immediately upon meeting and stayed that way through the end of her life. There are few surprises in this biography for Radner's fans. But for them, getting to spend a few more moments with this luminous, enchanting comic will be enough.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the purpose of Love, Gilda. Was it made by one of her fans? Does it leave you admiring or pitying Radner -- or both?
Radner's comedy, particularly on Saturday Night Live, dealt with some pretty stereotypes for humor. What makes something funny rather than offensive? Why do some people interpret comedy one way and some another?
How did Radner demonstrate courage and perseverance in her life? Why are those important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 21, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: January 1, 2019
- Cast: Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Gene Wilder
- Director: Lisa D'Apolito
- Studio: Magnolia Pictures
- Genre: Documentary
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: April 4, 2022
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