Joan Rivers movie A Piece Of Work from 2010 Such a Sad Startling Insight.

June Lands · ‎11-13-2014

I watched this last night on PBS. It was an interesting perspective on Joan's life from early on to present. I found it very sad. Not just because she is gone, but, because Joan could never really just relax and smell the flowers. She was obsessed with work, more work and how much money she could make. I think she feared lack... even though she had so so much$$$.

Joan even commented that her NY apartment was so lavish...and she wanted to have things and live lavishly and so she felt compelled to work hard to keep up the lavish stuff filled life.

I think she was filling up her life with stuff as she had so much loneliness in her life. Even having the great love of her daughter and grandson, she, never really spent quality time with them as THE WORK came first. Filling each moment with what was next... a job, a TV show, her clothing line.... and her obsession with her face and never being happy with how she looked.... never really just enjoying all she had and who she was. So very sad....

I think Joan lost perspective in her life of what is truly important. To have so much, be so talented, and yet never feel like you ever just have enough. I can not imagine living my life that way living a life so full of insecurities.... and then dying never having enjoyed truly the important things in life. ${#emotions_dlg.sad}$

Perhaps her mistakes will help someone else to not live the same way.... and turn their life around before it is too late.

winamac1 · ‎12-29-2010

Joan didn't have to work that hard. She wanted to work that hard. She died with 150 Million dollars from what was reported. I also think she had a lot of friends so I don't know how lonely she would have or could have been. I admired her work ethic.

"friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel"

June Lands · ‎11-13-2014

On 12/28/2014 winamac1 said:
Joan didn't have to work that hard. She wanted to work that hard. She died with 150 Million dollars from what was reported. I also think she had a lot of friends so I don't know how lonely she would have or could have been. I admired her work ethic.

Thankyou for your comment. I do think her work ethic was an obsession to never just STOP. That is truely sad. It may have felt normal and right to her.... Only because she never really understood enjoying her life without all the noise and busyness. Many people live that way....their loved ones are the ones who lose out on quality time with them.

brii · ‎06-20-2010

I think Joan completely enjoyed her life. Work was her life. Family was important to her too.

She could have stopped working but chose not to.

June Lands · ‎11-13-2014

On 12/28/2014 brii said:
I think Joan completely enjoyed her life. Work was her life. Family was important to her too.

She could have stopped working but chose not to.

Yes...work was her life. That is what this movie shows.

brii · ‎06-20-2010

She had a fabulous life.

sunshine45 · ‎03-09-2010

On 12/28/2014 brii said:
I think Joan completely enjoyed her life. Work was her life. Family was important to her too.

She could have stopped working but chose not to.

i completely agree brii......i think it showed how much she enjoyed her life, even through all of the sadness and turmoil. she was a scrappy lady to say the least and i think that she lived the life she wanted to live and that made her happy.

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"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein

Suzy Snowflake · ‎05-14-2013

I sort of agree with you Anna Bella but then I think of Bob Hope, George Burns, and all the classic comedians who worked right up until the day they died. I think it is in their soul. The need to work, please, laugh and connect. To make people laugh is the greatest gift of all. Thanks for giving us your insight, there is much truth in it.

YorkieonmyPillow · ‎01-13-2013

I think her work was her way of communicating with the rest of the world, and her way of expressing herself. She had a strong need to communicate. I don't think she was obsessed with working so much as wanting to be known.

She enjoyed her life, I think,and everyone is different. I saw an interview with her where she said she didn't believe in an afterlife and so, I think she was trying to cram in as much livin' as she could and by golly, she did it.

Anniecamp · ‎03-12-2010

Joan worked very hard all of her life. She was also very transparent, if people really listened to her. I thought the sad part of the film was what she said about the thought of having an empty calendar. The suicide of her husband and the rejection by Johnny Carson hurt her to the core. Total abandonment. Her husband left with her holding the bag for a boatload of debt. I don't think she ever wanted to be in that type of situation again, and made sure it didn't happen.

Thankfully, her excellent work ethic included presenting quality merchandise for people to purchase from QVC.