With Joker nearing the $1 billion mark at the box office, Such a Funny Life offers an alternative angle on the plight of the struggling stand-up comedian. The protagonist of this low-budget drama is David Guiterrez (Gonzalo Trigueros), an aspiring entertainer whose abusive father and mentally challenged mother haunt his childhood memories. Oliver Mann wrote and directed, utilizing low-key lighting to emphasize the darkness that surrounds the protagonist, an outcast living continually on the brink of spiritual collapse.

Arena Cinelounge, 6464 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; Fri., Nov. 8, $16. (323) 924-1644, arenascreen.org.

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