Come See Me in the Good Light, 2025,
Directed by Ryan White.
Featuring Andrea Gibson, Megan Falley, Heather Mann, Emily Clay, and Bethy Leonard.
SYNOPSIS:
Two poets, one incurable cancer diagnosis. Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley go on an unexpectedly funny and poignant journey through love, life, and mortality.
Ryan White’s documentary follows poet laureate Andrea Gibson as they deal with spreading cervical cancer. Their partner, Megan Falley, refused to be pushed away when Andrea received their diagnosis, and both are committed to caring for each other through this journey. This documentary lends great company by allowing audiences to spend time with two cool human beings who just happen to be contemplative artists deeply in love.
When one receives earth-shattering news, it is only understandable that one’s life is then re-examined through a new lens. Andrea is open about having depression and suicidal feelings, but, as they state, when they received their cancer diagnosis, they were given a new lease on life knowing that their body would provide the ultimate countdown. They could focus on enjoying every moment and really be at one with the world.
Megan, Andrea’s partner, is also vulnerable about her body image issues – and Andrea’s cancer also provides a new way for Megan to understand herself, too. Andrea states that all they wish for is a body to continue living the life that they appreciate more than before. The vulnerability and complexity of thoughts on display are remarkable and helps this film stand out from being just a “cancer weepie.” It is obvious that there is a deep, profound love shared by a queer couple, which is partly why I need to write this review – to hold up a shining light and say, these, right here are #couplegoals in every sense of the phrase. (Yet, we don’t need cancer to make a great couple, of course.)
Films like these help underscore the importance of collaboration when dealing with a significant health challenge. The number of appointments, meetings, treatments, medications, e-mails, scares, cries, and so on is unimaginable to the casual observer. Someone who is queer cannot necessarily know that health care providers will not discriminate (this is not a film about that, but it is worth saying – especially since we are often at our most vulnerable when we go to the doctor’s office).
A touching moment occurs in this film when Andrea asks Megan if they can wake her up when they feel scared. Megan is quickly reassuring, and this is one of many opportunities to witness the couple in bed whispering and talking to each other, which is as intimate as you can get. Ryan White’s filming brings us to many opportunities where we can see the partners living full lives with each other, for which I am thankful.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the beautiful poetry that is quoted throughout the film, including at a live spoken word performance introduced by Tig Notaro. Both Andrea and Megan are published authors and have a friendly rapport when editing the others’ work. Andrea commenting on the thrill they get when they are able to introduce themself as a poet is genuine and relatable: to be an artist is to be someone that is always discovering new things – even if close to the end.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
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