André Is an Idiot: The Hilarious and Heartbreaking Documentary About Life and Death
When André Ricciardi turned fifty, his best friend Lee suggested they celebrate by getting colonoscopies together. Lee envisioned a comical scene of them side by side in a medical facility, but André, known for his wild antics, surprisingly declined. That decision would later haunt him. Eighteen months after refusing the procedure, André discovered blood in his stools and underwent the test, revealing a stage 4 cancer diagnosis.
A Maverick's Final Project
Director Tony Benna, who had collaborated with André on various advertising projects involving celebrities like Ozzy Osbourne and Eminem, received an unexpected email. André and Lee proposed a film idea over Zoom. The next day, André delivered the shocking news: "I have cancer and I'll probably be dead in three years. Want to make a film about it?" Benna was taken aback but intrigued. He had always wanted to document André's incredible life, filled with outrageous stories and unconventional ideas.
The film, titled André Is an Idiot, became a unique blend of humour, heartbreak, and stop-motion puppetry, capturing André's extraordinary approach to his terminal illness.
Wild Stories and Emotional Depth
André's life was a tapestry of bizarre adventures. He once purchased Kim Kardashian's old leather trousers at auction, hoping to clone her DNA. Another time, he read Helter Skelter, a book about the Manson murders, to his daughter during her hospital recovery. In the 1990s, during his "bathrobe era," he married a bartender named Janice to help her get a green card, leading to an unexpected romance after they won a gameshow holiday to the Caribbean.
Janice emerges as the film's emotional anchor, providing steadfast support as André's health declines. Her presence adds depth to the whirlwind of André's escapades, which include pitching a TV show called Who Wants to Kill Me? where contestants would compete to end his life creatively.
Confronting Mortality with Humour
Benna embraced André's unconventional methods, whether it was visiting a Radon mine, trying crystal healing, or experimenting with mushrooms. The documentary uses stop-motion animation to recreate scenes, such as bringing André's chemo hair to life, and even casts legendary weed smoker Tommy Chong as a lookalike for André's private father.
André's therapy sessions with Peter reveal a deeper layer, as he learns to move beyond his irreverent humour as a defence mechanism and embrace vulnerability. This spiritual transformation becomes a powerful climax, showing André's growth in facing his mortality.
Legacy and Impact
Despite the heartbreaking outcome, André found meaning in his final years, creating an advertising campaign to encourage men to get colonoscopies. The film won the audience award at the Sundance Festival, with viewers expressing how it helped them feel less afraid and isolated in their own health battles. Many have credited the documentary with prompting them to get checked, potentially saving lives.
Before his death in December 2023, André reflected on his journey, calling it "the best years of my life." Janice and Lee echoed this sentiment, highlighting how the experience brought them closer together in an intense, emotional way. André Is an Idiot is not just a film about death; it's a celebration of life, creativity, and the power of laughter in the face of adversity.
