A lot of comics get on stage and use their stories in their personal lives to get some insight about the big picture while they make a crowd laugh. I don’t know how they do that–tell stories and turn pain into humorous anecdotes. Sometimes the straightforward truth, though, can serve its purpose because it’s refreshing to see someone be boldly honest and unfiltered. Desdemona Chiang’s See You Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow feels unbelievably personal as it showcases that compassion, laughter, and unadulterated love serves up the best medicine.
We sense Cathy’s nerves as she gets ready to go on stage for the first time in a number of years. Her voice is a little tentative as she sizes up the crowd, but then she starts talking about her 99 year old grandmother and Cathy finds her groove. Nai Nai didn’t have a problem with Cathy being queer, but the comic was nervous about coming out as a stand-up…or have you heard about how hard it is to get laid when your roommate is a nonagenarian?
Cathy details how Chinese grandmothers are masters of intimidation as she lets the crowd in on some embarrassing stories of when Nai Nai raised Cathy while her parents were busy working. In a way, Chiang’s film asks us all to think about our elders and how they shaped and cared for us and how they influence our perspectives and humor. Nai Nai tells Cathy a story of when she was brought home from the hospital and the nurses didn’t properly care for her newborn bottom, so her grandma made sure to give the area some sensitive tending to. Even though we are in their shared apartment, we hear the audience laughing at the story, as if Cathy perfected the delivery. It’s a piece of simple editing used to beautiful effect.
Much like a story being unraveled on a hot mic, Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow goes to unexpected emotional places in its final third as Cathy details what it’s like struggling to make a name for yourself as you are performing care on someone that you love. Chiang’s film resonates deeply when it comes to revealing a loving sacrifice–speaking about Nai Nai on stage, in a way, helps keep her alive as laughs inject some needed levity in such a thoughtful narrative. We connect with Cathy because she is truly real with us even as the laughs find their way in. Chiang’s film earns the laughs but it never skimps on the humanity.
See You Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow plays as part of the Out On Film’s What We Carry: Drama Shorts block on October 4 at Landmark’s Midtown Art Cinema on October 4. It will stream as part of Out On Film’s online programming beginning October 5.
