About The Film

Can the Holocaust be funny? If so, where does comedy draw the line? Top comedians and prominent Jewish leaders, as well as Holocaust survivors, weigh in with a wide range of answers about the taboo and crafting of Holocaust humor and what constitutes “good taste.” Film clips from THE GREAT DICTATOR, TO BE OR NOT TO BE, THE PRODUCERS, LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, and Jerry Lewis’s notorious but never-seen THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED are woven together with rare archival footage and thoughtful, edgy interviews that illustrate just how subjective notions of humor and offense are. Comedy writer Susie Essman points outs, "Time makes a difference. Nobody cares if you do Inquisition jokes.” To that Gilbert Gottfried adds: "They say that tragedy plus time equals comedy. I say, why wait?"

Interviews with: Mel Brooks, Sarah Silverman, Joan Rivers, Louis C.K. Chris Rock, Gilbert Gottfried, Rob Reiner, Abraham Foxman, Shalom auslander and more. 

Director Bio

One of a handful of female cinematographers in Kodak's “On Film” campaign for American Cinematographer Magazine, Ferne Pearlstein has directed, produced, photographed, and edited dozens of films including SUMO EAST AND WEST, IMELDA (2004 Sundance Documentary Cinematography Prize), DITA AND THE FAMILY BUSINESS, ONE MORE TIME, and LAND OF THE BLIND.

 
Sponsors:

• Jessica Prince and David Wilborn
• Brunch Sponsor: Matzoh Momma Catering | Miriam and Pip Meyerson
• Coffee/Tea Sponsors: Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Roasters, Washington’s Finest Teas