The Last Laugh
Available screening types
Virtual
On-demand
In-person
Available until
Apr 28, 2025
Speakers Available
Available in
Worldwide
About the film
Feature documentary about humor and the Holocaust, examining whether it is ever acceptable to use humor in connection with a tragedy of that scale, and the implications for other seemingly off-limits topics in a society that prizes free speech.
Genre
Documentary
Runtime
1h 26m
Released
2016
Director
Ferne Pearlstein
Producer
Ferne Pearlstein, Robert Edwards, Amy Hobby, Anne Hubbell and Jan Warner
Cast
Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Sarah Silverman, Robert Clary, Rob Reiner, Susie Essman, Harry Shearer, Jeffrey Ross, Alan Zweibel, Gilbert Gottfried, Judy Gold, Larry Charles, David Steinberg, Abraham Foxman, Lisa Lampanelli, David Cross, Roz Weinman, Klara Firestone, Elly Gross, Deb Filler, Etgar Keret, Shalom Auslander, Jake Ehrenreich, Hanala Sagal and Renee Firestone
Awards & recognition
Tribeca Film Festival
World Premiere
HotDocs Film Festival
International Premiere
Jerusalem Film Festival
Official Selection
Dallas VideoFest
Winner - Best Documentary
BFI London Film Festival
Official Selection
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
Centerpiece Film - Berkeley Big Night
What people are saying
‘Insightfully open-ended inquiry into the role of humor as it relates to unspeakable tragedy. ‘
Nick Schager
‘By seeking humor in the darkest dark, The Last Laugh gets at the intrinsic nature of comedy.‘
Jake Coyle
‘A viciously humane work, on a journey as vigorous as any contemplated by D.A. Pennebaker and his sort. ‘
Christopher Campbell
‘At a time when many of look to comedy to keep us sane, the question is especially pertinent. ‘
Peter Rainer