The Sundance award-winning documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light', now streaming on Apple TV+, offers an unvarnished look at poet Andrea Gibson and partner Megan Falley navigating a devastating cancer diagnosis. The film, directed by Ryan White, captures the couple's intimate journey through illness with remarkable honesty and humour.
Gibson, diagnosed with incurable ovarian cancer in their late 40s, chooses to embrace life fully despite the prognosis. The documentary follows their three-week cycles between blood tests, revealing the emotional rollercoaster of hope and grief. Gibson's background as a spoken word poet, once selling out rock clubs, uniquely equips them to articulate the fragility of mortality.
The film balances painful moments—doctor visits, chemotherapy, and the grief of impending loss—with dark humour and deep connection. A notable scene shows Gibson joking about Falley 'fingering the cancer' out of them, highlighting the couple's disarming approach to their situation. White weaves together archival footage, poetry readings, and the planning of a final celebratory performance.
That performance, featuring documentary producer Tig Notaro, stands as a triumphant celebration of Gibson's life. The film also explores poignant ironies, such as Falley's struggle with body image while Gibson longs for a healthy body, and Gibson's decision on whether to risk their voice for an experimental treatment. The documentary ultimately underscores how the spectre of death can dissolve gender confusion and deepen appreciation for life.
