Chanda Perice, Christian comedian, shares the pain behind the scenes of her life in “Laughing in the Dark”. She both wrote the book and filmed the documentary.
She has had a successful career as a stand-up comedian but says she paid the price of her family. The child of a pastor with mental illness, Chonda grew up with dysfunction. Both her sisters died at a young age and she lost her father as well.
Storyline:
Documentary about the life of Christian comedian Chonda Pierce, the RIAA’s number one selling female comedian of all time. – Imdb.com
In the past few years, she lost her mother, her husband who began struggling with alcohol once the kids left home and her daughter chose to discontinue contact. Chonda shared that she has been suffering from clinical depression and is now receiving treatment.
It’s hard to comprehend how someone who brings so much joy to others suffers so much themselves. The healing at the end of the movie comes from Chonda taking a young mom and her baby under her wings. Even though she misses her daughter and grand-children, she has someone to love on in her heartache.
Watch Laughing in the Dark (2015) Trailer:
I hope one day, she and her daughter will reconcile. I hope she, her son, daughter and grandchildren can build new memories.
There have been several movies recently of celebrities sharing their stories publicly. I don’t know if fame makes it easier or harder for them. I do believe for the Christian, at least we have Christ walking with us on our journey.
If you have a friend going through a difficult time, this may be a good program to watch together. It is an opportunity to share and offer support. No one ever promised us life would be easy, but having a friend to get through it with can make a difference.
It is also important to know when it’s time to seek professional help. Friends mean well but can’t fix a serious situation. Prayer helps but sometimes seeing a doctor and medication may be needed. I disagree with some Christian programs who don’t allow participants to get professional help. The staff are not qualified to make that decision.
For fans of Chonda Pierce, they are like family to her. They cannot replace her biological family but are a body of believers walking a journey together. That is something we can all use a dose of.
I would highly recommend this documentary as a tool to reach out to someone who is hurting. No one has to be alone.
