Come See Me in the Good Light

Last updated

Come See Me in the Good Light
Come See Me in the Good Light.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Ryan White
Produced by
Starring Andrea Gibson
Megan Falley
CinematographyBrandon Somerhalder
Edited byBerenice Chavez
Music by Blake Neely
Production
companies
  • Amplify Pictures
  • Tripod Media
Distributed by Apple TV+
Release dates
  • January 25, 2025 (2025-01-25)(Sundance)
  • November 14, 2025 (2025-11-14)(Apple TV+)
Running time
104 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Come See Me in the Good Light is a 2025 American documentary film directed by Ryan White. Retracing the life of American poet and activist Andrea Gibson, [2] the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2025, where it received positive reviews from critics and won the Festival Favorite Award. [3]

Contents

The documentary was critically acclaimed, being included into National Board of Review Top 5 Documentaries of 2025, receiving severals awards and nominations including at the Satellite Awards and Film Independent Spirit Awards. American singer-songwriters Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile wrote and performed the original song "Salt Then Sour Then Sweet". [4]

Plot

American poet and activist Andrea Gibson shares their life story, starting from their childhood, describing their early struggles with identity and trauma from family and their awareness of their sexual identity. Gibson also explained how poetry intertwines personal pain and how it helps spread their messages about the LGBTQ community and human and political inequalities. Gibson also addresses the theme of love with their wife Megan Falley, with whom they recount the drama of their battle with terminal ovarian cancer diagnosed in 2021. Falley finally recounts her memories after Gibson's death in July 2025.

Production

The documentary was conceived by American comedian Tig Notaro and producer Stef Willen, both longtime friends of Gibson and Falley, who contacted Jessica Hargrave and Ryan White. [5] It was filmed in the couple's house in Longmont, Colorado, between January 2024 to December 2024, accompanying Gibson through the process of treatment and care for the ovarian cancer diagnosed in July 2021. [6] [7] Singer-songwriters Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile serve as among the executive producers; they co-wrote a song for the documentary, "Salt Then Sour Then Sweet", with Gibson. [8] [9]

Release

It had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. [10] In April 2025, Apple TV+ acquired distribution rights to the film, scheduled for fall release. [11] Although Gibson lived to attend the Sundance premiere, they died from their cancer on July 14, 2025, before the film aired more widely. [12]

The film was released on November 14, 2025 on Apple TV+. [13]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 100% of 45 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10.The website's consensus reads: "Come See Me in the Good Light is an emotionally searing yet gently radiant portrait of Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley's navigation of terminal illness that never loses sight of the warmth, humor, and love that defined their relationship." [14] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 81 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [15]

Barry Levitt of Time described the film as "a gateway into their remarkable artistry" because "it is accessible, yet profound, and it’s easy to understand how those who might not count themselves as poetry fanatics", prising that " the documentary arrives at a time of great political unrest, with the queer community under threat in America". [6] In a four out of five review, Adrian Horton of The Guardian prising the "in which the director "constructs a delicate portrait of the poet, collaging readings of their most poignant poems". [16]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Austin Film Critics Association December 18, 2025 Best Documentary Film Come See Me in the Good LightNominated [17]
Boulder International Film Festival April 12, 2025Peoples Choice Award - Feature Length FilmRyan White, Jessica Hargrave, Tig Notaro, Stef WillenWon [18]
Best Feature DocumentaryWon
Cleveland International Film Festival February 21, 2025Roxanne T. Mueller Audience Choice Award for Best FilmCome See Me in the Good LightWon [19]
Best DocumentaryNominated
Honorable Mention – Documentary CompetitionRyan WhiteWon
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association December 17, 2025 Best DocumentaryCome See Me in the Good LightNominated [20]
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival May 5, 2025 Audience Award Come See Me in the Good LightWon [21]
Independent Spirit Awards February 15, 2026 Best Documentary Feature Come See Me in the Good LightPending [22]
International Documentary Association December 6, 2025Honorable Mention in Feature DocumentariesCome See Me in the Good LightPending [23]
National Board of Review Awards National Board of Review Awards 2025 Top 5 DocumentariesCome See Me in the Good Light3rd Place [24]
San Francisco International Film Festival April 27, 2025Best Documentary FeatureCome See Me in the Good LightWon [25]
Satellite Awards March 8, 2026 Best Documentary Film Come See Me in the Good LightPending [26]
Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards February 6, 2026 Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production"Salt Then Sour Then Sweet" (Sara Bareilles, Brandi Carlile and Andrea Gibson)Pending [27]
Sundance Film Festival February 1, 2026 Festival Favorite AwardRyan White, Jessica Hargrave, Tig Notaro, Stef WillenWon [28]
Toronto Film Critics Association March 2, 2026 Allan King Documentary Award Ryan WhiteWon [29]
Virginia Film Festival October 26, 2025Audience Award – Documentary FeatureCome See Me in the Good LightWon [30]
Chronicler AwardJessica HargraveWon
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards December 7, 2025 Best Documentary Come See Me in the Good LightNominated [31]

References

  1. "Come See Me in the Good Light (15)". British Board of Film Classification . October 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  2. "In Death, Poet Andrea Gibson Gets a Film That Celebrates Life". New York Times . November 14, 2025. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  3. Herndon, Jessica (January 26, 2025). "In "Come See Me in the Good Light" Andrea Gibson Turns Dying Into Something Beautiful". Sundance Film Festival . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  4. Willman, Chris (November 14, 2025). "Sara Bareilles on Her New Duet With Brandi Carlile, 'Salt Then Sour Then Sweet,' Theme Song for 'Come See Me in the Good Light': 'This Film Is Medicinal — It's Easy to Want to Amplify It'". Variety . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  5. Victorian, Brande (December 11, 2025). "How 'Come See Me in the Good Light' Director Ryan White Made Dying Funny". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Levitt, Barry (November 14, 2025). "The Life-Affirming Story of Cancer, Poetry, and Love Behind Come See Me in the Good Light". Time . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  7. Erbland, Kate (November 29, 2025). "Ryan White Has Loved Every Film He's Ever Made — but 'Come See Me in the Good Light' Changed His Heart". IndieWire . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  8. Gardner, Chris (January 22, 2025). "Sara Bareilles Debuts World Premiere of Song Co-Written by Brandi Carlile at Sundance". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  9. Fleming, Ryan (November 7, 2025). "Sara Bareilles Was Inspired By Andrea Gibson's "Care And Grace" In Face Of Cancer In 'Come See Me In The Good Light' – Sound & Screen Film". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  10. D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 11, 2024). "Sundance 2025: JLo, Sly Stone, Putin, Ayo Edebiri, André Holland, & Ex-NZ PM Jacinda Ardern Films Among Park City Festival Offerings". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  11. Saperstein, Pat (April 14, 2025). "Sundance Festival Favorite Doc 'Come See Me in the Good Light' Lands at Apple TV+". Variety. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  12. Schoenbaum, Hannah (July 14, 2025). "Poet Andrea Gibson, candid explorer of life, death and identity, dies at 49". AP News . Archived from the original on July 14, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  13. "Come See Me in the Good Light". Apple TV+ Press. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  14. "Come See Me in the Good Light". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  15. "Come See Me in the Good Light". Metacritic . Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  16. Horton, Adrian (November 13, 2025). "Come See Me in the Good Light review – frank, funny and inspiring documentary tackles cancer". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  17. "2025 Austin Film Critics Association Award Nominations". Austin Film Critics Association. December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  18. "2025 Awards".
  19. "CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES THE CIFF49 AWARD WINNERS". www.clevelandfilm.org. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  20. Neglia, Matt (December 17, 2025). "The 2025 Dallas Fort-Worth Film Critics Association (DFWFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  21. Pat Mullen, "Come See Me in the Good Light Wins Hot Docs Audience Award". Point of View , May 5, 2025.
  22. Lattanzio, Ryan (December 3, 2025). "Spirit Award Nominees include 'Sorry, Baby', 'Peter Hujar's Day', 'Train Dreams', 'Twinless', and 'The Plague'". IndieWire . Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  23. Kilkenny, Katie (December 6, 2025). "IDA Documentary Awards: 'The Tale of Silyan' Wins Best Feature". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  24. Davis, Clayton (December 3, 2025). "National Board of Review Winners 2025: 'One Battle After Another' Dominates with Best Film, Director, Three Acting Prizes". Variety . Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  25. "'Ink Wash,' 'Seeds,' 'All That's Left Of You' And More Claim Top Prizes At 68th San Francisco International Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood . April 30, 2025. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  26. "IPA set to Celebrate the 30th Annual Satellite Awards". International Press Academy. December 16, 2025. Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  27. Millman, Ethan (December 17, 2025). "Ludwig Göransson, Stephen Schwartz Lead Nominees for Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  28. Gardner, Chris (February 2, 2025). "Ryan White's Documentary 'Come See Me in the Good Light' Wins Sundance Festival Favorite Award". The Hollywood Reporter .
  29. Mullen, Pat (December 8, 2025). "Toronto Film Critics Name Come See Me in the Good Light Top Doc". POV Magazine. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  30. "Virginia Film Fest: Lineup Announced, 'Jay Kelly' Composer Nicholas Britell to Guest on Live Episode of THR's 'Awards Chatter' Podcast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . September 23, 2025. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  31. Neglia, Matt (December 6, 2025). "The 2025 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 7, 2025.