The Last Laugh

Is there such a thing as a good joke about the Holocaust? Is it okay to laugh about 9/11 or the AIDS epidemic? Too soon? Ferne Pearlstein seamlessly weaves together film clips, stand-up performances, interviews with notable Jewish comedians—including Rob Reiner, Sarah Silverman, and Mel Brooks—as well as incredible archival footage of cabarets inside concentration camps, to make a smart, provocative, and often hilarious documentary about the way laughter can be lifesaving when we’re in the midst of our darkest hours. “The Last Laugh” features an unforgettable cameo by Auschwitz survivor Renee Firestone, who describes life under Nazi occupation and finds humor in her horrific past. This brilliantly-crafted film will force you to think while you laugh out loud. In Person: Director Ferne Pearlstein.