I USED TO BE FUNNY
Having already proven herself as a gifted comedic actress with scene-stealing turns in BODIES, BODIES, BODIES and BOTTOMS, Rachel Sennott delivers perhaps her most dramatically accomplished role yet in this absorbing dramedy. Sennott plays Sam, a promising stand-up comedian whose life and career have stalled out after a traumatic series of events leaves her crippled by PTSD. She’s continually dogged by reminders of Brooke (Olga Petsa), the 14-year-old she used to nanny and who’s since gone missing. Writer-director Ally Pankiw’s inventive script alternates between present and past, observing how Sam initially managed to break through Brooke’s distrust, establishing a genuine bond with the angsty teen. But what caused this bond to break, and why did Brooke run away? Pankiw reveals details methodically, keeping viewers guessing until the film’s cathartic and dramatic conclusion. Deftly marrying dark comedy, mystery, and genuine pathos, I USED TO BE FUNNY is an insightful exploration of grief and healing.
CAST: Rachel Sennott, Olga Petsa, Jason Jones, Sabrina Jalees
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