Call Her Applebroog

Call Her Applebroog is a 2016 documentary film offering a deep, intimate dive into the oeuvre and life of revered visual artist Ida Applebroog. This remarkable film, directed by the artist's daughter Beth B, peels back layers of anonymity, family dynamics, and creative inspiration as it explores Ida Applebroog's mesmerizing career, spanning five decades, and her personal journey as an artist.

Ida Applebroog, a celebrated American painter known for her public self-expressions and adaptations of intimate political art, is the central figure in this documentary. Her works have been noted for analyzing and challenging established notions about gender, politics, and sexuality, opening up global dialogues about these controversial themes. The film presents an intense, close-up overview of Applebroog's life, from her origins in a fraught Bronx family during the late 1920s and 1930s to the feminist upheaval of the 1960s and 1970s, paving way for her rise in the art world.

The documentary provides an insightful portrayal of Applebroog's unique artistry, her versatility stretching to painting, sculpture, photography, and film. It captures her prolific career, detailings how her revolutionary themes, although controversial during her time, challenged conventional social norms and made lasting impact on the art world. The film underlines how Applebroog used art as a means of addressing dark, uncomfortable truths, channeling political themes into creative symbolism that sparked dialogues and stimulated intellectual contemplation.

Undeniably, what makes Call Her Applebroog genuinely special is the personal aspect of the narrative. Being made by her daughter, Beth B, the film transcends the typical boundaries of a conventional documentary, moving into an intimate family conversation that is unprecedented in its sincerity. Beth provides the viewers a window into their private world, sharing home videos, private conversations, and even journal entries that showcase Applebroog's personality, thought processes, and her complex relationship with her art.

The bond between mother and daughter forms a vital part of the film's narrative. Throughout the documentary, we see both Ida and Beth grappling with their creative processes, their shared history, and the inherent challenges of depicting a beloved family member's life and career with honesty and grace. This personal connection sheds light on the intricacies of Applebroog's personality, and her embodiment of the passionate, relentless spirit that defines groundbreaking artists.

Call Her Applebroog delves into various phases of Applebroog's life, some triumphant, some dark, and some simply humanizing. It offers an unprecedented view of the artist's experience with mental health, shining a light on her solitude during her stay in Mercy Hospital due to depression. The documentary beautifully details how the artist utilized her adversity, transforming her room into a studio and creating what is now known as her 'Mercy Hospital series.'

Furthermore, the film tactfully unravels controversial aspects of Applebroog's life, such as her sending provocative, unmarked 'Applebroog Books' to influential people in the art world. These were extended pamphlets filled with her artwork and musings that brought her attention among New York's elite art collectors and museums.

Call Her Applebroog is poignant, introspective, and surprisingly intimate, merging a personal investigation with an exploration of significant cultural and artistic trends during Applebroog's working years. The honesty in each frame creates a space where viewers are invited into Applebroog's world and life, to witness the person behind the acclaimed artist.

Moving beyond merely a biographical account, this documentary emerges as a testament to Ida Applebroog's power, resilience, and unapologetic presence in an often unaccommodating art world. It invites viewers to understand the inner workings of an artist who has never shied away from reflecting society's deepest, darkest corners through her art.

Released in 2016, Call Her Applebroog provides a lasting homage to an artist like none other and offers an intriguing narrative that beautifully combines the personal with the professional. It is a must-watch for those passionate about understanding the journey and the empowerment of artists, the uniqueness of their creative process, and the relentless drive to express, provoke, and inspire.