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Deep Dive: Uncle Howard (2017)

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Uncle Howard
Uncle Howard is a documentary about filmmaker Howard Brookner, directed by his nephew Aaron Brookner. The film focuses on Howard's life, his work, and the impact of his untimely death from AIDS in 1989 while he was in post-production on his Hollywood film. The documentary reveals how his body of work remained largely forgotten for 30 years, stored in William S. Burroughs' bunker, until Aaron began to uncover his uncle's story. Production started in 2012, with Aaron searching for the missing print of Howard's film and other archives. The project was initially presented at the Berlinale Talent Project Market in February 2013, where Jim Jarmusch became the executive producer. The film features a variety of interviews and archival materials, culminating in a special screening at the New York Film Festival in 2014, which brought together Howard's friends and colleagues.

Why Watch

  • •See Howard Brookner's forgotten legacy come to life.
  • •Meet Jim Jarmusch, the film's executive producer.
  • •Find out about the revival screening at the New York Film Festival.

Did You Know

•Howard Brookner died in 1989 while in post-production on his film.
•The film was presented at the Berlinale Talent Project Market in February 2013.
•Uncle Howard has a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 22 reviews.
•The film's soundtrack includes songs by Duke Ellington and The Pretenders.

Perfect For

Documentary enthusiastsFans of Jim JarmuschLGBTQ+ historyFilm preservation advocates