Comedians often say their best material comes from their worst days. Maria Bamford has spent a career proving it, and Netflix’s new documentary Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story shows just how literally that can be true.
Four years with a one-of-a-kind comic
Directors Judd Apatow and Neil Berkeley followed Bamford’s daily life for close to four years. The film moves from her childhood in Minnesota, where she grew up gifted and a little odd, through the years of character-heavy stand-up that made her a cult favorite among other comedians. Stephen Colbert has called her his favorite comic, and it is easy to see why: few performers switch voices, moods and personalities as fast as she does.
What sets this documentary apart is how openly it deals with mental illness. Bamford has spoken publicly for years about her struggles, and the film includes the remarkable detail that she developed new jokes during stays in psychiatric care. Instead of turning that into tragedy, the movie treats it the way she does on stage: with honesty, curiosity and a sense of humor that refuses to look away.
Funny first, moving second
Apatow knows comedy better than most, and he lets Bamford’s work carry the story. Clips of her routines sit next to quiet moments at home, so viewers can see the line between the person and the performance blur and then sharpen again. Early reviews describe it as achingly honest, but also very, very funny, which is exactly the balance a film about Bamford needed.
For longtime fans, it is a chance to see the craft behind the chaos. For newcomers, it is a perfect introduction to one of the most original voices in American stand-up, and a reminder that being deeply in touch with your own mind can be both a burden and a gift.
Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story is streaming now on Netflix.