Cracked Up
Throughout the documentary, Hammond relates the story of his past traumas and current struggles with honesty and humor.
Cracked Up
with Q&A
In Cracked Up, director Michelle Esrick’s award-winning documentary, we witness the impact that childhood trauma can have across a lifetime through the incredibly courageous and personal story of comedian, actor and Saturday Night Live legend Darrell Hammond. Renowned for his impressions of Bill Clinton, Sean Connery and hundreds more, Hammond wowed SNL audiences for a record-breaking 14 seasons. Although Hammond performed brilliantly on live TV, behind the scenes he suffered from debilitating flashbacks, self-injury and addictions, symptoms which were misdiagnosed by over 40 doctors as mental illnesses, including: multiple personality disorder, manic depression and schizophrenia. Not until a suicide attempt that brought Hammond together with Dr. Nabil Kotbi was he properly diagnosed and treated, unleashing the memories his brain had locked away for over 50 years.
Esrick gracefully weaves together comedy and tragedy, helping us to understand the biological effects of childhood trauma in a new light. Breaking down barriers of stigma and replacing shame with compassion and hope, Cracked Up reveals what is possible when science meets the human spirit.
Cracked Up is a rallying cry to be part of a movement that is transforming our communities one by one to become trauma informed.
In Cracked Up, director Michelle Esrick’s award-winning documentary, we witness the impact that childhood trauma can have across a lifetime through the incredibly courageous and personal story of comedian, actor and Saturday Night Live legend Darrell Hammond. Renowned for his impressions of Bill Clinton, Sean Connery and hundreds more, Hammond wowed SNL audiences for a record-breaking 14 seasons. Although Hammond performed brilliantly on live TV, behind the scenes he suffered from debilitating flashbacks, self-injury and addictions, symptoms which were misdiagnosed by over 40 doctors as mental illnesses, including: multiple personality disorder, manic depression and schizophrenia. Not until a suicide attempt that brought Hammond together with Dr. Nabil Kotbi was he properly diagnosed and treated, unleashing the memories his brain had locked away for over 50 years.
Esrick gracefully weaves together comedy and tragedy, helping us to understand the biological effects of childhood trauma in a new light. Breaking down barriers of stigma and replacing shame with compassion and hope, Cracked Up reveals what is possible when science meets the human spirit.
Cracked Up is a rallying cry to be part of a movement that is transforming our communities one by one to become trauma informed.
Genre
Documentary,
Bio-pic,
Pop Culture,
Health
Runtime
98
Language
English
Director
Michelle Esrick
Cast
Darrell Hammond
FEATURED REVIEW
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
As he proved during his 14-year-stint on 'Saturday Night Live,' Darrell Hammond is adept at playing any kind of character. And as the new documentary 'Cracked Up' illustrates all too vividly and movingly, the one character he was truly uncomfortable embodying was himself. Michelle Esrick's film (for ...
Played at
Monica Film Center 9.20.19 - 9.26.19
NoHo 7 10.12.19 - 10.12.19
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