june 07, 2010
About the Film
In South Africa's young stand up comedy scene, where black comedians have only been performing for the past twelve years, twenty-six year old Trevor Noah has quickly risen to prominence as one of the country's most beloved entertainers. The child of an interracial couple--a union that was illegal in South Africa at the time of his birth--Trevor uses his unique experiences to create comedic material that is truly one of a kind.
However, despite his success, Trevor's career as a comedian is still largely relegated to headlining at corporate events. Determined to pursue his dream of performing all over the world, Trevor decides to produce his first one man show, despite only having a couple years experience as a stand up comedian.
Facing criticism from other comics, lingering family tension from the past, and in a country still battling the legacy of apartheid, Trevor endures many obstacles as the date of his show draws near. Yet nothing can prepare him for the worst: his mom getting shot just weeks before his performance. Though she survives the attack, this type of tragedy is unprecedented for Trevor, and on the eve of his show, he questions if he should even be on stage.
posted by dpmeyer at 11:30 am