“A loving and intimate tribute to a queer cinema legend, and a film worthy of its peerless subject.”
— Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire
“Full of loving relationships, artistic triumphs, and great sex.”
— Jacob Oller, AV Club
“While the film serves as an intricately crafted portrait of perhaps the first woman to put lesbian sex on screen, it’s more far-reaching than that niche theme might imply. O’Connor introduces us to a revolutionary director on a lifelong mission to transform cinema itself.”
— Lauren Wissot, Filmmaker Magazine
“Stands as a confident feature documentary for its filmmaker, yet also as a singular artistic statement after Hammer that should add new admirers for her work.”
— Murtada Elfadl, Variety
“An alluringly immersive experience.”
— Barbara Goslawski, POV Magazine
“Barbara was a true bad ass punk rocker. This film lays bare the essence of an icon.”
— Todd Haynes, Filmmaker
“Creates a sense of urgency in every frame: the whir of the projector, the grain of old film stock, the crackle of Hammer’s voice narrating her own archive. There’s a raw intimacy to the experience, as if you’re thumbing through a private scrapbook or listening to a late-night confession. The film invites you to witness Hammer’s journey and feel the stakes of being seen; to remember the ache of wanting images of your own life reflected back at you.”
— Courtney Gardner, The Independent
“Charms and inspires. Beyond just telling the story of the life of a trailblazing lesbian filmmaker, the documentary is an intimate portrait of a fascinating and indomitable woman who treated life as the ultimate adventure.”
— Aviva Dove-Viebahn, Ms. Magazine
“I fell in love with BARBARA FOREVER. I was smitten with Hammer’s work afterwards because you get to hear so much of her as an artist, so much of her as a person. I just want to watch everything that she’s done. I was so, so impressed. And I really think that speaks to O’Connor’s dedication and tribute to her in this film.”
— Monica Castillo, NPR
“More than a tribute—it is an inspiration and a milestone.”
— Shahran Morshed, International Cinephile Society
“Originally famed for her films of unashamed lesbian sexuality at a time when there was no such thing on screen, Barbara Hammer grew into a Pied Piper of filmmaking, urging women everywhere to document their lives. Nothing is off-limits: often naked, always talking, questioning, exploring, Hammer takes her camera everywhere. Barbara Forever pays tender tribute to a pioneer who never stopped believing in the power of film, right up until her last days with ovarian cancer, duly documented in her trademark style. ”
— B. Ruby Rich, Film Critic
“Barbara Hammer gave me a language for making films without asking permission, and Barbara Forever, directed by Brydie O’Connor, understands that lineage with confidence and nerve. It is smart, unapologetically queer, and formally alive. This film does not look back at Barbara, it moves forward with her legacy.”
— Cheryl Dunye, Filmmaker
“Barbara Hammer’s legacy, and this vibrant and important record of lesbian art, isn’t just secured with this film—it’s forever enshrined. This kind of movie is even more vital now than ever.”