Sundance 2025: ‘Andre is an Fool’ is an Endearing Doc About Most cancers
by Alex Billington
January 24, 2025
This movie is the story of what occurs when you do not get a colonoscopy. Sure that is truly the premise for this documentary movie directed by Tony Benna, however it’s additionally about way more than simply that vital PSA, after all. Andre is an Fool is the one movie on the 2025 Sundance Movie Competition with essentially the most distinctive title out of all of the movies within the line-up this yr. And I am glad it has this title as a result of, if something, this movie shall be helpful (even perhaps life-saving) in severely encouraging folks to guide a colonoscopy to test for colon most cancers. Andre is an Fool is a few kooky, one-of-a-kind artistic particular person named André Ricciardi. He was afraid of getting a colonoscopy and shrugged it off for years – till a physician lastly examined him and identified him with stage 4 colon most cancers. Sadly this movie paperwork his dying after this prognosis – it is a tragic story about most cancers taking one other life – however we’re fortunate we get to spend a lot time with Andre and this movie lets his humor and wit shine as he truthfully discusses his scenario, his emotions, and his household.
Andre is an Fool marks the characteristic directorial debut of a filmmaker named Tony Benna (together with his roots in stop-motion animation and different areas of filmmaking). The title is known as a particular reference to Andre’s self-deprecation and self-awareness, in addition to his humor in dealing with this tragic scenario. He admits & accepts that he made a mistake taking so lengthy to go get the colonoscopy and sadly this most cancers had already gotten actually dangerous by the point it was found. He goes on chemotherapy and half of the movie is spent with him going by chemo, not solely speaking about this harrowing medical expertise, additionally utilizing this time to mirror on his life and his selections. Andre is an Fool is a colonoscopy PSA however it’s additionally a biopic, trying again at Andre’s life with the hopes of exhibiting us that though it was most cancers that took him down, he nonetheless lived a stupendous life that made a distinction – and can proceed to make a distinction with this movie. A lot of the movie is uplifting, laugh-out-loud humorous, and charming – Andre’s household is great and his spouse is so loving and he desires to point out us that life is gorgeous even when it took him this lengthy to lastly decelerate and discuss it.
The filmmaking is simply as stunning as any of the folks within the movie and that makes a giant distinction relating to telling this story. This will sound harsh, however it’s true – utilizing comedy to speak about most cancers is not essentially the most distinctive or authentic idea. Sundance is a crucial pageant that has usually been a showcase for a lot of movies that take care of dying and tragedy and sickness, and particularly, addressing the unhappiness of most cancers and sickness by comedy. Grace is Gone is a well-known Sundance movie (from 2007 – it gained a bunch of award and was the most important sale of the fest that yr) starring John Cusack a few father struggling to inform his children their mom has died. Then there may be 50/50 with Seth Rogen & Joseph Gordon-Levitt (which premiered at TIFF 2011) and Me and Earl and the Dying Woman with Thomas Mann & Olivia Cooke (which premiered at Sundance 2015) each are well-known “most cancers comedies”. Our Buddy with Jason Segel (which premiered at TIFF 2019) is one other one – some of the latest most cancers comedies that had mainstream publicity. That is all to say that Andre is an Fool truly suits proper in at Sundance, and presents itself as amusing, touching, healthful movie that may change the lives of some folks regardless of how unhappy Andre’s most cancers story truly is.
Above all, the humor and kookiness and charisma that Andre Ricciardi exudes is the important thing part within the movie working nicely as a singular murals anyway. I am glad there’s one other “most cancers comedy” on the market that’s this good. Andre used to work in promoting as a artistic exec, and at one level within the movie he goes again to his former advert firm in New York Metropolis and works on ideas for a colonoscopy consciousness marketing campaign. At this level he appears to have accepted his destiny however (after a pleasant magic mushroom session together with his greatest pal) realizes he must profit from his tragedy to hopefully do extra for different folks apart from himself, and perhaps avoid wasting lives if he can. A colonoscopy can determine issues early which might be solved earlier than they unfold and the most cancers hits stage 4, which is what Andre is coping with and desires nobody else must take care of. I do hope this movie has an influence and reaches audiences past simply movie pageant regulars. Spending time with Andre and his beautiful household is rewarding and humbling it doesn’t matter what, and that makes this movie worthwhile even when it is powerful to take a seat with the unhappiness of it. He reminds us laughter actually is the perfect drugs.
Alex’s Sundance 2025 Ranking: 8 out of 10
Observe Alex on Twitter – @firstshowing / Or Letterboxd – @firstshowing
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