What I Learned
What really stuck with me was the extremely wide range of opinions that were voiced from intelligent, thoughtful people who had often shared similar life experiences – either as a comedian or as a survivor. The dialogue was laced with nuance and it is clear that the subjects of the documentary were really seeking to understand one another’s point of view, instead of just trying to convince each other that their view was correct. In one scene, two women, both survivors of the Holocaust are listening to a gondolier sing a song to them as they floated down the moat in the Venetian in Las Vegas. One of the women was enjoying herself while the other sat sullenly. The woman with the smile turned to her friend and asked how she could not enjoy this wonderful song? And the other replied that she couldn’t as she always remembered the suffering and all of those who weren’t alive to hear it.
Another poignant moment was when Mel Brooks laughed at a particularly controversial joke told by Sarah Silverman about the Holocaust. Brooks commented that while he acknowledged the joke was empirically funny, he’d never consider telling a joke like that.
Final Takeaway
All in all, I’d say the movie is worth a watch, especially if you’ve never seen a documentary on the subject. The primary take away for me was watching how folks with such different opinions on such a visceral subject could speak respectfully to one another and come from a place of genuine curiosity.
The Last Laugh is available streaming on Netflix.
Charley Smith works for both the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Jewish Federations as the Young Adult Engagement Manager.
