Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work ***

Or you could call it "Joan Rivers, Inc." An up-close and intimate look at her life at 75, from the daily ritual of the heavy makeup to the hard-won gigs (and she will almost literally work anywhere) we see her life as it is and, in archival footage, what it was as she worked her way to the top. Nothing, it seems, is off limits, and the most painful parts of her life are there along with the most joyful. Shot over a 14 month period by Ricki Stern and her sister, Annie Sundberg, this amazing documentary provides a backstage portrait that is intriguing, involving, sad, raucously funny, and thought-provoking.

Rated R. 84 minutes. Ricki Stern - Director, Annie Sundberg - Co-Director, Seth Keal - Producer, Anne Sundberg - Producer, Charles Miller - Cinematographer, Paul Brill - Composer, Penelope Falk -Editor. Produced by Break Thru Films. Distributed by IFC Films.

Principal subjects (as themselves): Joan Rivers, Flo Fox, Kathy Griffin, Don Rickles, Melissa Rivers.