When Tig Notaro suggested to filmmaker Ryan White that he make a documentary about Tig’s friend, the poet Andrea Gibson, two words gave Ryan pause: “cancer” and “poetry.” He wondered who would fund (and watch) such a documentary. But, to Ryan’s great surprise, as evident in his deeply moving, funny and highly engaging documentary “Come See Me in the Good Light,” following Andrea and their wife, the writer Megan Falley, during some of the hardest moments of their lives ended up producing a film full of joy and humor, not to mention a final poetry performance worthy of a rock star.
Ryan joins Ken on the pod to discuss his initial foray to Andrea and Megan’s home in Colorado and the enveloping family atmosphere that lovingly entangled him and his crew throughout the making of this extraordinary documentary. For Ryan, who has directed approximately one documentary a year for the past 15 years, this was the one that ended up being his most personal and favorite project. When Andrea overcomes the ravaging effects of ovarian cancer long enough to perform a final show, the audience roars its approval and, in the spirit of one of Andrea’s remarkable poems, we are all left with goosebumps.
“Come See Me in the Good Light” has been named to this year’s Oscar shortlist in the Documentary Feature Film category. The film is available for streaming on Apple TV.
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