The new documentary Come See Me in the Good Light offers a remarkably frank and inspiring look at life, love, and the reality of a terminal cancer diagnosis. The film, which won the audience award at the Sundance Film Festival, lands on Apple TV+ on 14 November.
A Story Defying Cliches
It focuses on the celebrated poet Andrea Gibson and their partner, writer Megan Falley. The couple, together for over a decade, faced Gibson's diagnosis of incurable ovarian cancer in their late 40s. While Falley sought to avoid clichés, Gibson chose to embrace them, doubling down on mantras about living fully and loving harder in the face of mortality.
The documentary, directed by Ryan White, captures their life in rural Longmont, Colorado. It is structured around the three-week increments between Gibson's blood tests, a cycle that dictates their emotional landscape. A high score brings shock and grief, while a low one offers a temporary period of pure joy and lightness.
Humor and Honesty in the Face of Illness
Despite the devastating subject matter, the film is filled with a surprising amount of dark, disarming humour. This forms the lifeblood of the 104-minute documentary. An early scene shows the couple collapsing in laughter after a raunchy joke, setting a tone of unvarnished authenticity.
Gibson, a former touring spoken word poet who commanded stages like a rockstar, proves to be a magnetic subject. They and Falley frequently break the fourth wall, inviting the filmmakers into their most intimate and sacred moments. The film is collaged with readings of Gibson's poignant poetry, such as Tincture, which grapples with the soul's grief for the failing body.
Profound Revelations and a Final Triumph
The documentary tackles profound ironies with unflinching honesty. It explores how Falley, who was writing a memoir on body image, watched her partner long for any body that was healthy. It details Gibson's agonising decision about an experimental treatment that could extend their life but risk permanently destroying their voice.
A central thread is Gibson's hope to stage one final performance, a celebration of life before death. This triumphant event, graced by comedian and documentary producer Tig Notaro, serves as a stunning public showcase of a life lived to the fullest.
The film also captures how Gibson's perspective on gender identity, long a focus of their work, seemed to melt away with the real spectre of death. They expressed that a persistent desire to die, once present in their art, was replaced by a prodigious and powerful desire to live.
Andrea Gibson died in July at the age of 49, surrounded by Falley, their parents, pets, and former partners. The documentary, however, ends before this moment, leaving viewers with Gibson vibrant on screen, marvelling at the glorious gift of being alive.
