Dave Chappelle: Live in Real Life

Dave Chappelle: Live in Real Life
Release poster
Directed bySteven Bognar
Julia Reichert
Produced bySteven Bognar
Dave Chappelle
Julia Reichert
StarringDave Chappelle
CinematographyIan Cook
Edited byKevin Jones, Jaime Meyers Schlenck, and Hannah Blair
Production
company
Pilot Boy Productions
Release date
Running time
120 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Dave Chappelle: Live in Real Life (originally titled Dave Chappelle: This Time This Place and advertised as Untitled Dave Chappelle Documentary) is a documentary film directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert. The film details Dave Chappelle's 2020 comedy shows and musical concerts he put on in Yellow Springs, Ohio during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and the 2020 George Floyd protests.[1]

Background

Following closures of comedy clubs and venues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the murder of George Floyd, Dave Chappelle began hosting outdoor comedy and music shows in a cornfield in his home of Yellow Springs, Ohio.[2] Chappelle created a COVID-19 bubble to protect artists via testing. The bubble suffered a few COVID-19 exposures.[3] Filmmakers Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, directors of the documentary American Factory, happen to be Chappelle's neighbours and were asked to direct the film.[4]

Release

The film was premiered at Tribeca Film Festival on June 19, 2021 at Radio City Music Hall.[4]

Following controversy over jokes made in Chappelle's October 2021 Netflix special The Closer, distributors were not interested in the film and film festivals "uninvited" the film from being screened.[5] Chappelle decided to take the film on tour to be shown in 10 arenas in cities across the United States and Canada[6][7] and will have a limited theatrical run beginning November 19, 2021.[8]

Reception

Chappelle asked critics not to review the film.[9]

In a positive review, Peter Debruge of Variety called the film "an impressive account of how the comedian found a way to host live stand-up shows during the jittery first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, directed by Oscar-winning American Factory duo Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar".[9]

The film has not yet been released to the general public.

References

  1. ^ Kohn, Eric (June 20, 2021). "Dave Chappelle Delivers a Rousing Follow-Up to 'Block Party' for Packed Radio City Crowd".
  2. ^ Ballengee, Libby (Aug 7, 2020). "Dave Chappelle shows to continue starting with a sold-out newly announced show with John Mayer". Springfield News-Sun. Archived from the original on 2020-11-10.
  3. ^ Young, Julius (September 28, 2020). "Dave Chappelle-led comedy shows canceled after 'possible' coronavirus exposure". Fox News.
  4. ^ a b Rubin, Rebecca (June 20, 2021). "Dave Chappelle Closes Out Tribeca Festival With Surprise Concert at Radio City". Variety.
  5. ^ Escandon, Rosa (2021-10-26). "Dave Chappelle Announces Documentary Dates Amidst Controversy". Forbes.
  6. ^ Blistein, Jon (October 25, 2021). "Dave Chappelle, Who's Definitely 'Canceled,' to Screen New Documentary in Arenas". Rolling Stone.
  7. ^ "Tickets to Toronto screening of Dave Chappelle doc reselling for over $3,000 | Listed". dailyhive.com.
  8. ^ "Dave Chappelle: Live in Real Life Movie Tickets & Showtimes". Cinemark.com. Archived from the original on 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
  9. ^ a b Debruge Variety, Peter (November 6, 2021). "'Untitled' Dave Chappelle Documentary Review: A Movie So Good, You Wish You Could Forget 'The Closer'".