Joey Magidson
Comedians often have a dark view of the world. Sometimes, it’s just their way of seeing and processing life. Other times, it’s part of an emotional or mental struggle. Translating it to comedy, especially stand up comedy, can be a form of therapy. The documentary Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story digs into this, as well as celebrates who comic Maria Bamford turned out to be. Co-directed by a comedian himself in Judd Apatow, it’s a doc that comics will love, but anyone can find much to appreciate. For my money, it’s the best documentary I saw this year at the Sundance Film Festival.
Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story works both as a biographical film as well as a look at how comedians deal with mental health. In following a comic’s comic in Bamford, who has been on a mental health journey not just for her professional career, but her whole life, Apatow and company have a subject who brings a lot to the table. The movie is at its best when we feel like we’re getting into the nitty gritty of how her mind works.
This is the story of, yes, comedian Maria Bamford. Long seen as a comic’s comic, appreciated by audiences but beloved by her fellow stand ups, she’s also spent a life struggling with mental illness. Suicidal in her youth, she eventually used comedy as a way of dealing with things. The doc features clips of her comedy through the years, up until her Netflix show, which really laid everything bare, as well as conversations between Apatow and Bamford that illuminate what goes on in her head. The combination really does give you a sense of who she is, who she hopes to be, and what she’s avoided becoming.
Maria Bamford is really funny, of course, but she also has a way of explaining her situation that’s quite moving. You never feel pity or anything like that, but you do feel like you understand, at least to a degree, what she’s going through. Not only does that invest audiences, it likely is therapeutic for Bamford as well, only making the doc more beneficial to the world.
Co-directors Judd Apatow and Neil Berkeley (who recently made the comedian documentary Group Therapy, reviewed here) are enamored with Maria Bamford, both for her comedy, as well as her struggle. Apatow’s interviews with her are interesting, while the duo select stand up clips that really shine a light on her. It all comes together really well, even if comedy fans will ultimately get the most out of it.
Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story amused and moved me. Her story can actually help others deal with some of their mental health issues, and that’s incredibly important. Combine that with the hilarious Bamford clips, as well as her insightful interviews, and you have a Sundance documentary that’s easy to recommend. I got quite a bit out of this one and you likely will too.
SCORE: ★★★
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