2024 Glasgow Film Festival Review

Whether you recognize her name or not, for many Scottish people, Janey Godley’s comedy is a familiar presence. From watching her at the fringe to viewing her COVID videos featuring Nicola Sturgeon, she is vociferous, crude, and, for me, a hilarious comedian. The documentary follows Janey Godley during her Not Dead Yet tour in the wake of her being recently diagnosed with cancer. As we follow her travels from show to show, the film explores stories from her past, ranging from tales of growing up and memories she has of her mum to that time she brought a very truthful sign to the golf course when President Trump came to Scotland. I feel that the documentary heavily relies on one’s appreciation for her humor. In between these story segments, it includes parts of her stand-up set. As I mentioned before, I find her comedy to be hilarious. Therefore, every time a moment of her stand-up is played, it is excellent. However, for those who do not find her comedy to be their cup of tea, I can see those moments as being hard to watch.

The film is a great showcase of her life, though there is so much more to the documentary than just the jokes. Seeing what Janey Godley has gone through, from abuse to death to cancer, can be truly harrowing. So, the fact that she can still crack a joke and bring people so much joy is powerful. However, this is where my biggest critique of the film arises. The documentary covers a lot of Janey’s life, and while it is all interesting, I found that how it was presented was messy. One moment we would go from a story of her past, and the next, it was about how she got cancelled for old tweets. I just wish the stories flowed together more elegantly.

Even though I wish it were a smoother watch, the film is easy and brisk. At 1 hour and 18 minutes, it flies by. Another aspect that stood out to me was how well-shot it is at times. Seeing the Scottish scenery showcased the beauty of the country. For a film that relies heavily on people talking, it is never boring to watch on a visual level, as it is not filmed like a more traditional talking-head documentary.

Janey is a great film that showcases someone at one of their lowest points in life but proves that it is not the end. You can continue to do what you love and carry end. A diagnosis is not the end, and this film proves that nothing can stop you.