Hard Man

A documentary that highlights the deadly combination of sleep deprivation and long days of work, focusing on the American film industry.

This one-hour film, narrated by Actor BURT LANCASTER, explores the lingering effects of The Hollywood Blacklist, which occurred in the late forties and early fifties as part of the Anti-Communist witch-hunts that terrorized the nation. This film is seen through the eyes of the wives and children of the now deceased Hollywood figures whose careers were destroyed when studio bosses, along with guild and union officials capitulated to the demands of the House Un-American Activities Committee.

This short film centers around a debate between three important activist artists: Haskell Wexler - legendary cinematographer and filmmaker, Hubert Sauper - award winning documentarian, and Susan Meiselas - world renowned photojournalist. What’s truth? Is it truth, fact or fiction? Who tells the story? Whose story is it? Interspersed with their films and photographs.

Filmmaker Joan Churchill, who is being honored this year with DOC NYC’s Lifetime Achievement Award, collaborates with Alan Barker on this personal portrait of legendary filmmakers Haskell Wexler, D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus. Over a rollicking evening, they discuss filmmaking and what it means to be an artist, interwoven with reflections on Wexler’s work as an activist.