Barbara Forever: A Self-Narrated Documentary on Barbara Hammer's Life
The upcoming documentary titled "Barbara Forever," directed by Brydie O'Connor, will delve into the impactful life of feminist filmmaker Barbara Hammer. Set for a 2026 release, the film notably omits her first three decades, focusing instead on her transformative journey beginning in the 1970s. After relocating to Berkeley and embracing her identity as a lesbian, Hammer became integral to the queer and experimental film community. Utilizing archival footage, personal images, and interviews—especially with her partner Florrie Burke—the film captures Hammer's creative evolution and her poignant reflections on life and mortality during her 2018 performance on palliative art.
Key facts
- Barbara Forever is a 2026 documentary directed by Brydie O'Connor.
- The film focuses on Barbara Hammer's life from the early 1970s onward, skipping her first three decades.
- Hammer came out as a lesbian and began making films in the early 1970s.
- She separated from her husband and moved to Berkeley, California, to join queer and experimental filmmaking scenes.
- The documentary is constructed almost entirely from archival materials, including photos, notes, videos, and voice recordings.
- New interviews with Hammer's longtime partner, Florrie Burke, are featured.
- Hammer created the performance piece 'The Art of Dying or (Palliative Art Making in the Age of Anxiety)' in 2018.
- Hammer died in 2019 from endometrioid ovarian cancer.
- The film presents a linear timeline but non-linear thoughts due to editorial interventions.
- Hammer's self-documentation allows her to narrate her own life.
Entities
Artists
- Barbara Hammer
- Brydie O'Connor
- Florrie Burke
Institutions
- Hyperallergic
Locations
- Northern California
- Berkeley
- California
- United States