Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
2010
•
1h 24min
• Documentary
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work takes us on a year long ride with the irreverent comedian and pop icon Joan Rivers, peeling away the mask of the legendary performer, laying bare both the struggle and thrill of living life as a groundbreaking female performer. With unprecedented, unguarded access, the film captures intimate scenes shot in Joan's 75th year - Joan at home, during holidays, performing stand up and acting in a play she wrote, gossiping with her fans, writing jokes and managing her career - interweaving them with home movies, stand up routines, book recordings, personal photographs and archival footage to create a lush visual landscape and cinematic backdrop for the narrative as it unfolds. A unique look inside America's obsession with fame and celebrity - Joan's story is both an outrageously funny journey and a brutally honest look at the ruthless entertainment industry, the trappings of success and the ultimate vulnerability of the first queen of comedy.
