Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
For first-time Directors Kristina Goolsby and Ashley York they had their work cut out for them as they documented the bravery of a now legendary comic, Tig Notaro. Being diagnosed with Breast Cancer is certainly no laughing matter, but for Tig the only way to deal with it was to talk about it and integrate it into a comedic routine. Tig’s Career skyrocketed just three days after she was diagnosed with Cancer and announced it to an Audience at the Largo Theatre in Los Angeles.
For a Documentary such as TIG, there is a significant amount of risk in making the Film through and through because Cancer is sometimes curable if caught early enough but it can continue to linger in ones system. Aside from the Cancer, Tig was unfortunately hit with some even worse news since August 3, 2012. Not only was she having to deal with the fact that she had Breast Cancer, giving her no choice but to have a Double Mastectomy, but she was also unlucky enough to contract Pneumonia and a rare disease called C.diff. As if Cancer weren’t enough, life threw some more disheartening surprises Tig’s way. However, Tig Notaro being the Person she is, always approached her battle with Optimism and won her battle against Cancer, Pneumonia, and even C.diff. TIG is an uplifting Documentary on a subject matter that had odds stacked against her for months, as she battled everything life through at her to make it to the top, the grandest stage of them all, life.
TIG explores the human condition when it is faced with great obstacles and difficulties. As well it searches for ways to make the best out of adverse situations, leaving tears in the eyes of live audiences and theatrical audiences.
Don’t miss TIG at Hot Docs it screens Thursday, April 23, 2015 at The Bloor Hot Docs Theatre at 9:45 PM, Friday, April 24, 2015 at The Bloor Hot Docs Theatre at 6 PM, and Sunday, May 3, 2015 at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 7 PM.
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