film

The Female Closet (1998) is a documentary directed by Barbara Hammer that examines the lives and work of lesbian artists whose contributions have been overlooked or deliberately erased. Combining interviews and archival material with the personal filmmaking style Hammer is so renowned for, the film focuses on figures including the painter Alice Neel, photographer Catherine Opie and writer Terry Castle, and explores the intersections of sexuality, creativity and self-expression. Rather than presenting a conventional art history, Hammer delves into the metaphorical "closet" that has concealed queer women from cultural narratives, questioning who is given the "honour" of being remembered, and why.

Blending biography with political reflection, The Female Closet highlights the importance of visibility while acknowledging the complex ways artists have negotiated identity across different generations. Hammer coaxes her subjects into speaking candidly about their lives, producing a warm, incisive portrait of resilience and artistic freedom. These two screenings close out Filmoteca's Barbara Hammer season, which has been running since April.