Crying With Laughter

Narrative Feature, Festival Favorites
D: Justin Molotnikov; with Stephen McCole, Malcolm Shields, Jo Hartley

Struggling stand-up comedian Joey Frisk (McCole) reveals early on that he rarely looks back. However, writer/director Molotnikov gives Frisk little choice in the matter as forces beyond the hard-living Scottish comedian’s control begin to make for one seriously crappy week, which starts with a seemingly chance encounter with an old military school friend and ends with no shortage of bloodshed, kidnapping, and torture and more than a few shocking revelations. Not that Frisk doesn’t need a bit of shaking up, what with his rent and alimony overdue, not to mention his disregard for those close to him. The stand-up routines are a unique way to frame this oft-told and usually depressing tale of pain and forgiveness, and Crying With Laughter marks an impressive feature debut for Molotnikov.

Wednesday, March 17, 4:30pm, Lamar 2

This article appears in March 19 • 2010.

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James graduated from Columbia University in 2000 and moved to Austin a year later. Ever since, he has followed the arts and video game scene in ATX, editing and writing stories for the Chronicle along the way. Over his more than 20 years with the paper he has climbed the "corporate" ladder from lowly intern to managing editor.