“Brady Street: Portrait of a Neighborhood” made its big screen debut at the Milwaukee Film Festival nearly two years after docUWM completed the project for the Spring 2023 semester. Professor Sean Kafer, director of the film and director of the docUWM program, helmed the project alongside students in docUWM to showcase the culture, history, and people of the infamous Brady Street.
The film takes a deep dive into the surprisingly beguiling history of Brady Street. Those local to Milwaukee know how much culture and how much Brady Street means to the city of Milwaukee, but the history told through this film would make even a local of Portland, Oregon raise an eyebrow. Did you know there was a riot on Brady Street?
The program docUWM is the documentary media center in UWM’s Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres, where students gain hands-on experience by working on professional productions alongside faculty. Bridging academics with real-world impact, docUWM produces short videos and feature-length documentaries on pressing political and social issues. Topics docUWM have covered range from Brady Street to conservation, racism, Milwaukee neighborhoods, Hmong culture, and elder abuse.
The documentary takes a look not just across history, but across the whole block; its current restaurants, establishments, businesses, and gatherings. From Glorioso’s to Zaffro’s to Regano’s Roman Coin to then discussing the 60s counter-culture movement and the history behind the architecture of St. Hedwig; this film has it all and more.
While the documentary can feel like there were fifteen hands on the story of the project (because there were), the film’s technical quality is outstanding. The audio storytelling is crisp and the visuals make you see the iconic Milwaukee street in a different light, a light that will stay with you next time you walk down the street.
This film is a delight to watch, not just for those local to Milwaukee, but anybody with a thirst for the history on culture and the people that shape it. It was a wonderful treat to see the iconic street with a deeper understanding.
Director Sean Kafer commented during the after-screening Q8A that they are looking into streaming, including with PBS. Nothing official has been made yet.