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'Love, Gilda' to Screen at the Fall KCET Cinema Series on August 21

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Q&A immediately following with director Lisa D’Apolito

“Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next.” In her own words, comedienne Gilda Radner reflects on her life and career. Weaving together her recently discovered audiotapes, interviews with friends (Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Laraine Newman, Paul Shaffer and Martin Short), rare home movies and diaries read by modern-day comedians inspired by Gilda (Bill Hader, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Cecily Strong), “Love, Gilda” opens up a unique window into the honest and whimsical world of a beloved performer whose greatest role was sharing her story.

Gilda Radner never fails to put a smile on the faces of people who remember watching her as one of the original cast members of "Saturday Night Live," where she created and portrayed such now-classic comic characters as Roseanne Roseannadanna, Emily Litella and Lisa Loopner. She quickly rose to meteoric fame in television, movies and on Broadway…and was declared ‘one of America’s sweethearts.’ “Love, Gilda” is a true autobiography, told in Gilda’s words and in her own voice. Working with the Radner Estate, director Lisa D’Apolito unearthed a collection of diaries and personal audio/video tapes documenting her childhood, her comedy career, her relationships and ultimately her struggle with cancer. This never-before-seen footage and journal entries form the narrative spine of the documentary, allowing Gilda to tell her own story — through the laughter and sometimes the tears. Incredibly, she was able to find humor in even the darkest of times. Gilda’s spirit lives on in comedy as a female trailblazer who continues to inspire many present day comedic performers.

“Love, Gilda” continually underscores this theme of Radner as a pioneer for female empowerment in comedy. “Gilda felt equal to men,” says D’Apolito, “She could be up there with John Belushi and all these guys and if it wasn’t working her way, she’d would find a way to make it work.”

 “Love, Gilda” will be released in theaters on September 21 by Magnolia Pictures. The film’s director Lisa D’Apolito will be in attendance for a Q&A session immediately following the screening with host and Deadline film critic Pete Hammond, who can also be seen in KCET’s Must See Movies. The fall season of the KCET Cinema Series is generously sponsored by Deadline.com. The season began on August 14 and runs through October 9.. Season passes are available online via Eventbrite and individual admissions are available at the door for $30 each.

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