But... Seriously

All things Americans are ashamed of, from the sixties up until today, seen through the eyes of the most astute and committed stand-up comedians. That is what But...Seriously has to offer: an hilarious montage of highlights from the history of America's most typical form of cabaret. Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Jimmy Walker, Lily Tomlin, Pat Paulsen, Whoopi Goldberg, Jackie Mason and many others are reviewed in this collection, which contains fragments from more than eighty different shows. Arduous research brought all these acts from TV shows, nightclubs and theatres together. Next, each fragment had to be negotiated with agent or artist. The main criterion for the selection was that the humour had to be politically or socially inspired. Vietnam, racism, censorship, drugs, homeless people, AIDS, Iran-contra; never before did a single film comprise so many controversies. To inform the spectator about the current political situation, the performances are linked with historical newscast fragments. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)