Lost Bohemia - Movie Review - 2010

For the past century, the floors above the Carnegie Hall auditorium have been used to provide creative artists with affordable studio apartments where they could live and work. Among those who've lived in the studios are Marlon Brando, Paddy Chayefsky, Isadora Duncan, Bill Cunningham and many other famous and lesser-known artists. Together, they established a sort of artists community with an extraordinary ambience of creativity.

Lost Bohemia Chronicles what happened when Carnegie Hall served all of the residents with eviction notices so that their living spaces could be converted into offices. The tenants, most of whom had lived in the studios for decades, were intent upon fighting for their homes. Many were getting on in age and felt that moving would be disorienting. Some couldn't afford comparable housing elsewhere. But, most importantly, they didn't want to be removed from their creative community.

Filmmaker Josef Astor was among those who received an eviction notice. He's been videotaping his neighbors just to keep a record of their interesting doings. His work suddenly took on new importance and immediacy. His footage and interviews stand as the only record of what those who belonged to the Carnegie Hall community were all about -- the dancers, photographers, actors and actresses, musicians, writers, pedagogues and other 'Bohemians' who were part of a New York tradition that, like so many others, has passed away.

The film is personal and poignant. Astor's intimate knowledge of the situation and of the quirky and compelling characters makes for authenticity. The individual stories are quite moving. At times, the film's pacing seems a bit slow, but the result is that you have time to contemplate the situation, which is actually quite infuriating. Here's another documentary that shows how individuals fall prey to corporate greed.

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Film Details

• Title: Lost Bohemia
• Director: Josef Astor
• Running time: 77 minutes
• Trailer
• Official Website
• US Theatrical Release Date: November 5, 2010 (NY Doc Fest)
• Parental Advisory: Content advisory for parents
• Location: USA, New York
• Distribution Company: Impact Partners