Come See Me in the Good Light – Hot Docs 2025
April 24 to May 4, 2025
Content Advisory: Suicide, Terminal Illness, Anxiety and Depression
FILM FESTIVAL
Hot Docs
Hot Docs 2025
PROGRAMME
Hot Docs Special Presentations
Spoken-word poet Andrea Gibson reflects on their life after being diagnosed with incurable ovarian cancer in Come See Me in the Good Light. Andrea Gibson is the Poet Laureate of Colorado and a rock star in the world of spoken word poetry. In 2021, Gibson put their career on hold after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which was deemed by doctors to be incurable. Initially given only two years to live, Gibson works with the support of their partner and fellow poet Megan Falley to try new treatments and fulfill their goal of doing one final performance.
Come See Me in the Good Light Synopsis
Come See Me in the Good Light is a documentary about the cancer journey of spoken word poet Andrea Gibson, directed by Ryan White (The Case Against 8, Ask Dr. Ruth) and produced by comedian Tig Notaro, whose own cancer story was told in 2015’s Tig. The film follows Andrea Gibson and their partner of nine years, Megan Falley, as they cope with the possibility that Gibson does not have much longer to give, with their lives divided between the results of Gibson’s CA-125 blood tests, every three weeks. However, before they go, Andrea Gibson wants to give one last spoken word performance.
My Thoughts on Come See Me in the Good Light
While cancer stories are inherently sad, Come See Me in the Good Light is notable for the amount of humour that’s in the film, including a recurring gag about how Andrea Gibson’s mailbox keeps breaking. The film also focuses on the unconditional love between Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley, the latter of whom experienced body-image issues and was in the process of writing her memoir when Gibson received their diagnosis. As Andrea Gibson was once someone who struggled with panic attacks and suicidal ideation, the ultimate life-affirming message of Come See Me in the Good Light involves Gibson realizing that they have to make the most out of the time they have left and live one day at a time.
