When Howard Brookner lost his life to AIDS in 1989, the 35-year-old director had completed two feature documentaries and was in post-production on his narrative debut, Bloodhounds of Broadway. Twenty-five years later, his nephew, Aaron, sets out on a quest to find the lost negative of Burroughs: The Movie, his uncle's critically-acclaimed portrait of legendary author William S. Burroughs. When Aaron uncovers Howard's extensive archive in Burroughs’ bunker, it not only revives the film for a new generation, but also opens a vibrant window on New York City’s creative culture from the 1970s and ‘80s, and inspires a wide-ranging exploration of his beloved uncle's legacy.
Editing
Seamlessly weaves 80s footage with nephew's present-day detective work
Production
Burroughs' actual bunker—dust, reels, and all—becomes sacred space
Director
Aaron Brookner
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jim Jarmusch was Howard Brookner's NYU roommate and appears throughout; their early friendship shaped both their careers.
The 'lost' Burroughs negative was found in Burroughs' Lawrence, Kansas bunker—where he'd apparently been hoarding film cans like a Beat Generation dragon.
GB
US
