Not long after publicly admitting to inappropriate sexual behavior, comedian Louie C.K. made a comeback with his show called Sorry. A documentary from the New York Times adds “/Not Sorry” as its title, wondering what the comedian really means. Sorry/Not Sorr
y breaks down into several chapters, running through the phases and issues involved in the troubling case of a genuinely talented performer whose personal behavior proves both hateful and hurtful. Directors Cara Mones and Caroline Suh present the story somewhat statically since events confine them to a mix of talking heads or clips from stand-up comedy routines—not much in the way of action. But then the points they explore involve disturbing and thought provoking issues rather than excitement. The directors feature several women who went on the record explaining that Louie C.K. masturbated in front of them. Other clips show comedians like Dave Chapelle making fun of any distress the women feel, saying essentially, “no big deal” and “get over it.” Friends and co-workers like Jon Stewart and Sarah Silverman (in clips) wonder what they would have done had they realized the truth, while a producer admits he heard rumors but chose not to address them. More than sex, power and greed fall in the mix with no one wanting to make a definitive decision about what should be done lest it hurt their careers, connections, or self-images. The group of eye-closers includes the public—millions of fans who continue paying to see Louis C.K.’s shows; it includes colleagues who voted him a Grammy award for his Sorry show. And importantly, say filmmakers, the group of minimizers and deniers includes Louis C.K. himself, who seems sorry for the blowback on his career but not sorry for his victims. In presenting these situations, the documentary Sorry/Not Sorry lays out a conundrum that makes for uneasy and worthwhile consideration.
Comments