Stand-Up (2021)

Jack, a fifty-year-old comedian, performs on stage. As he cannot fathom the idea of giving up his dark and very aggressive humor, his career never takes off. One night, he gets into an argument with his agent and friend Harry. Both of them have been working together for more than thirty years, but Harry's proposal of a TV contract undermines their professional and friendly relationship. The performance he gives that evening is his last, as he dies of a heart attack in front of an audience that mistakenly took the situation for a joke. The conflict of the film is brought up by Harry's contract proposal. It gives Jack the opportunity of appearing on television provided that he reviews his most extreme jokes. Although the discussion between the two characters becomes worn out, the debate reaches its climax that night, when Harry grabs Jack. The argument, which was initially about professional matters, becomes more centered around their friendship. Jack finds himself at a turning point, where refusing this proposal would also lead to the loss of what seems to be his only true friend. Stand-Up is the story of a man with his back to the wall, unable to open up to what his friend has to offer. He is at a crucial point where his professional and personal life are on the brink of collapse.