A comedian grapples with her traumatic past in this sharp, superbly-acted dramedy.
A dramedy that balances humour and pathos with rare, effortless finesse, I Used to Be Funny is highlighted by a captivating performance by Rachel Sennott (star of AFF 2020’s sell-out hit Shiva Baby and HBO’s The Idol). Toronto native Sam (Sennott) is a part-time stand-up comedian and full-time nanny battling with depression. After Brook, a teen she used to babysit, goes missing, Sam is flooded with traumatic and fragmentary memories of her time with Brook’s family. The film is elevated beyond being a character study of a spiraling individual through its true-to-life portrayal of friendship, its unfolding narrative tension, and its ability to find humour in adversity.
“This film manages to be genuinely funny while simultaneously confronting hard-hitting subjects that are no laughing matter, fully and appropriately confident in the exceptionally delicate balance it manages to achieve.” (Awards Watch)
“Raw, thoughtful, funny, and featuring a chilling dramatic performance by Rachel Sennott, I Used to Be Funny marks a stellar filmmaking debut for writer/director Ally Pankiw.” (Rendy Reviews)