In early June, the controversial comedian Louis CK dropped a surprise announcement that he was releasing a new film project, Fourth of July, an indie drama he directed, co-wrote, edited and starred in. On Thursday, Fourth of July had its world premiere at a sold-out Beacon Theater in New York, with fans of CK flocking to see a movie that is likely to have a very limited release.
Fourth of July not only marks CK’s return to filmmaking, but is also part of his efforts to return to the mainstream following allegations of sexual misconduct by several women. In 2017, the comedian was accused by five women of going out in front of them and masturbating – allegations he admits and apologized for. The allegations came at the height of the #MeToo movement and led to several companies’ strong ties with CK
After spending most of the past five years as something of a pariah in Hollywood, CK gradually made a return to standup comedy, and in April he won a Grammy for best comedy album for Yours sincerely Louis CK
After the film’s premiere, CK and the film’s cast held a panel discussion at the Beacon Theater, where the comedian admitted that it was his. first time a film premieres in front of a live audience. “I’ve never really done that before,” he said. “To see what people are laughing at … it’s a wonderful feeling.”
CK said it Fourth of Julydescribed by The Hollywood Reporter‘s reviewer as “the sharp edge of his brilliant work on the sitcom is missing louis” self-financed. The comedian said he reached out to longtime friends and co-workers – many fellow comedians from his hometown of Boston – to bring his vision to life. Among the collaborators was comedian Joe List, the film’s co-writer and lead actor. “It was not like I was portraying Joe as this guy,” CK said. “It was a story we wanted to tell together. It never occurred to me that someone else would play him. “
In Fourth of July, List plays Jeff, a recovering alcoholic and jazz pianist living in New York City. Following the advice of his therapist (played by CK), Jeff confronts his family during their annual Fourth of July holiday. The film tackles the anxiety that comes with going back home and the feeling of even being out of place between family.
“You have your feelings, you want to go back and tell your people that they’ve ruined your life, that it’s all their fault,” CK said of the film’s underlying themes. “What finally happens is that he says the thing he was afraid to say. It did not necessarily happen with the effect he wanted, but it is good that he said it. ” It says, “you hurt me and I hurt you. Let’s eat pizza. It’s like – it’s going to be okay. ”
CK and List said they want to bring a difficult yet related family situation to their audience. The duo drew from their own experiences to go to therapy and communicate with their loved ones.
“In real life, people do not really succeed in expressing themselves,” says CK. “These two,” he said, referring to List and Sarah Tollemache, who were married in both the film and in real life, “[they] really did this amazing thing of just ‘how do we say this to each other?’
“In your family, if they want you to drink and you will not, it hurts their feelings,” CK added. “And if you will not be like them, put on the fucking Boston T-shirts and be a fucking idiot like them, that’s a rejection. That’s how it’s for Jeff to go home,” he said. said.
Fourth of July will also be shown at the Shubert Theater in Boston on July 1 and at The Vic in Chicago on July 2.