Audience(1983)

Audience is a 16mm documentary by Barbara Hammer capturing viewer reactions at retrospectives of her work across San Francisco, London, Toronto, and Montreal in the early 1980s. Shot in raw, diary-like style, the film departs from Hammer's usual visual sophistication to focus on the people watching her films. What emerges is a vivid portrait of lesbian communities in different cities—San Francisco audiences bold and celebratory, London viewers more reserved, Canadians thoughtfully critical. Hammer's presence sparks genuine discourse about representation and lesbian visibility. The film functions as both historical record and testament to Hammer's influence as a cultural figure, documenting how cinema can galvanize audiences into new conversations about identity and art.