Sleepwalk with Me

VANCOUVER PREMIERE Winner of an Audience Award at Sundance, Sleepwalk with Me
is a smart, neurotic slice-of-life comedy about a struggling stand-up
comedian’s issues with his stalled career, imploding long-term
relationship, and serious sleep dysfunction. REM Sleep Behaviour
Disorder is a condition that causes a person to “act out” his dreams. In
the film, Mike Birbiglia plays autobiographical Matt Pandamiglio, an
underachiever tending bar in a comedy club and waiting for his big
break. Adorable girlfriend Abby (Lauren Ambrose) remains his biggest
supporter, but, eight years into their relationship, she wants to get
married. Matt isn’t sure, but then he isn’t sure about anything. As his
anxieties increase, so too do his sleepwalking episodes — including a
flying leap out a (closed) second-story window that leaves him with 33
stitches! This actually happened to Birbiglia in a Washington hotel
while on tour; events like these inspired his one-man off-Broadway show,
a segment on NPR’s “This American Life,” a book, a comedy album — and
now this film, co-written and produced by Ira Glass. “A very funny, very
sad, and ultimately moving look at how comedy is often born from
immense emotional (and occasionally physical) pain … Easily one of the
best films ever made on the subject of stand-up comedy” (Jacob S. Hall,
movies.com). Colour, Blu-ray Disc. 90 mins.

Post-screening discussion with Dr. Jonathan Fleming,
a psychiatrist with a special interest in sleep disorders, particularly
the management of chronic insomnia. He is the Co-Director of the Sleep
Disorders Program, UBC Hospital, and the Director of Postgraduate
Education, UBC Department of Psychiatry.

Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky, Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.

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