On October 11th of 1975 the famed American variety show, Saturday Night Live, made its television debut. Among the original seven cast members was the infamous Gilda Radner. Almost 43 years later there is rarely a comedian in the industry that doesn’t draw inspiration from her now-classic characters; Roseanne Roseannadanna, Emily Litella and Lisa Loopner. Narrated by some of the biggest names in comedy (including Melissa McCarthy, Amy Poehler, and Maya Rudolph) using Radner’s own voice through recently discovered and never before seen diaries, interviews and home movies. Love, Gilda is an intimate look into the life and challenges Radner faced at the height of her success, able to find the humor even in the worst situations. 

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In close collaboration with the Radner estate, the film’s director Lisa D’Apolito found “… personal diaries, audio recordings and videotapes that document the comedian’s childhood, career and relationships as well as her battles with an eating disorder and cancer.” (THR). The film opened earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival, instantly making personal connections like with Tina Fey, who apparently choked up twice during a speech about the documentary. 

“Gilda was our equivalent of Michelle Obama. [Love, Gilda] feels like a miracle to me: It felt like I was getting time to spend with someone that I never knew, that I very much would have wanted to have spent time with.”

Love, Gilda is set to premiere September 21st. 

 

Fallon Marie Gannon
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