Watch Uncle Howard

"Uncle Howard" is a poignant and deeply moving documentary film about director Aaron Brookner's quest to uncover the legacy of his late uncle, filmmaker Howard Brookner, who tragically died of AIDS in 1989. The film paints a vivid portrait of a remarkable talent lost too soon and the vibrant New York arts scene of the 1980s. Howard Brookner was a prodigious filmmaker who burst onto the scene with his acclaimed documentary "Burroughs: The Movie" in 1983, which chronicled the life and work of the iconic beat writer William S. Burroughs. He then turned his attention to his friend and fellow writer Brion Gysin, creating the film "Brion Gysin: Prophet" in 1988. However, Howard's burgeoning career was cut short when he was diagnosed with AIDS, which was at the time an incurable and untreatable disease.

Howard's nephew Aaron was only eight years old when he died, but his uncle's legacy loomed large over his life. As an adult, Aaron set out to learn more about his uncle's films and the world he inhabited. He discovered a treasure trove of material in Howard's archive, including behind-the-scenes footage from "Burroughs: The Movie" and intimate home movies of Howard's life and friendships.

Through interviews with Howard's friends and collaborators, including the legendary poet and artist John Giorno and acclaimed filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, Aaron creates a vivid picture of a creative community that revolved around Howard. He also delves into the personal struggles that Howard faced as a gay man during the height of the AIDS crisis, at a time when homophobia and fear of the disease were rampant.

As Aaron uncovers more about his uncle's work and life, he becomes obsessed with piecing together the story of "Bloodhounds of Broadway," a film that Howard was working on at the time of his death. The film was based on short stories by Damon Runyon and starred Madonna, Matt Dillon, and Jennifer Grey. It was a big-budget production and represented Howard's first foray into Hollywood filmmaking.

With the help of Howard's former colleagues, Aaron uncovers a lost print of the film and is able to see it for the first time. The experience is a bittersweet one, as Aaron confronts the fact that his uncle's moment of Hollywood glory was cut short by his untimely death.

"Uncle Howard" is a beautifully crafted tribute to a talented filmmaker and a touching exploration of family legacy. Aaron Brookner skillfully weaves together archival footage, interviews, and personal reflections to create a portrait of a man whose impact on the world of cinema deserves to be remembered.

The film is a love letter to the New York arts scene of the 1980s, where Howard Brookner and his peers were pushing the boundaries of what was possible in film and art. It is also a reminder of the devastating toll that AIDS took on that community, and the urgent need to remember those who were lost.

Ultimately, "Uncle Howard" is a testament to the power of art to connect us to our past and to each other. By sharing his uncle's work with the world, Aaron Brookner ensures that Howard's legacy will live on, and that the vibrant and creative community that he was part of will not be forgotten.

Uncle Howard is a 2016 documentary. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 73.