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Uncle Howard

Name: Uncle Howard
Director: Aaron Brookner
Released: 2017
Duration: 96 min

Representation Score

7.1/10

Good

2017

TV-MA

Director

Aaron Brookner

Runtime

96 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Uncle Howard is a sophisticated archival documentary that finds its strength in the thematic commitment to the outsider perspective. It successfully documents a transformative era of American cultural history through a personal, meta-documentary lens. However, the film remains limited by its narrow biographical focus. The narrative is heavily centered on male intellectualism and specific social circles, which restricts the breadth of its demographic representation. Ultimately, the work functions as a bridge to a specific historical moment, using the preservation of lost media to explore the intersection of art, identity, and systemic health crises.

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Category Breakdown

Does Uncle Howard have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film connects to the history of the AIDS crisis through the legacy of Howard Brookner. It serves as a bridge to queer history, emphasizing art preservation over explicit depictions of intimacy.

How does Uncle Howard portray gender?

Fair

The narrative focuses on the relationship between two men and centers on masculine intellectualism and the psychological isolation of its male subjects.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Uncle Howard?

Fair

The documentary captures the multicultural, creative landscape of 1970s and 80s New York City. However, it reflects specific social circles rather than prioritizing a non-Anglo-Saxon majority.

How does Uncle Howard represent religion and culture?

Good

The film celebrates the 'outsider' status and counter-cultural art over traditional Western institutions. It centers on figures like William S. Burroughs who challenge social norms.

Does Uncle Howard include disability representation?

Good

Themes of chronic illness and psychological instability are explored who play a significant role in driving the story. The film examines how health struggles and personal vulnerability shape a creative legacy.

Present on Screen

Provides a nuanced exploration of how chronic illness and psychological states shape creative identities.
Celebrates counter-cultural movements and the value of non-conformist, outsider perspectives.
Offers a vibrant window into the multicultural creative landscape of late 20th-century New York City.

Limited or Absent

The narrative remains heavily male-centric, focusing primarily on masculine intellectualism and male relationships.
Lacks high-density visible demographic variety, reflecting specific, limited social circles.
Focuses more on the preservation of art than on explicit depictions of queer intimacy.

Official Synopsis

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.

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