For the past several weeks, I’ve waxed on about the wonders of my hometown, a place I like to call Old Brooklyn. As I’ve mentioned, it’s more than a location, it’s a way of being, and while I think I’m a decently capable writer, there’s nothing like going to a place to really get a feel for it.
Of course, the challenge with Old Brooklyn is that it’s not only largely lost in time, but that even when it does still physically exist, it’s also hard to find if you don’t know where to look. And of course, Brooklyn—especially Old Brooklyn—is a multitude of experiences. Yes, there’s definitely a through line of attitude, of expressions, of ways of seeing the world. But there’s no one way to live or be or act or even talk. While I’ve got a decent way with words, mine is just one woman’s take.
So, in the spirit of the season—the season being “Off From Work, Hiding from Covid, Watching a Lot of TV”—I have compiled a list of 15 films that will help you better understand what I mean when I talk about Brooklyn. Ten are pure Brooklyn cinema, and five are documentaries.