In a time where physical media is quickly depleting, director Beth Harrington reminds us of the importance of slow consumption and the meaningfulness a body of creative work in one’s lifetime can convey. In 1979, after graduating from art school, David Greenberger started working at the Duplex Nursing Home in the neighborhood of Jamaica Plain in Boston, MA. His curiosity led to interviewing the male residences about their dreams, opinions and interests into what became known as the Duplex Planet zines. Crafting a niche space for those whose personalities and lives often get put to the wayside, Beyond the Duplex Planet shines a quiet spotlight on the artist known as David Greenberger and his continuous output of artistic work, as well as the humanity brought to those he interviewed and interacted with.
Rather than conducting straightforward interviews with the nursing home’s residents, Greenberger would pose surreal, offbeat questions (“which do you prefer, coffee or meat?”, “who invented the concept of sitting down?”), and record responses into a collection of printed zines. Garnering interest from hundreds of subscribers, Greenberger continued to create a multitude number of issues throughout the years, eventually reeling in fans from the likes of R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, graphic novel artist Daniel Clowes, and select interviews and guest appearances on the Conan O’Brien Show, Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. Rather than the focus being on end of life or reminiscing about one’s past, the elders Greenberger interacted with preferred discussing their current fascinations, interest and hobbies, providing an alternative view to the assumptions of aging. Utilizing found video and audio footage, many of the nursing home’s residences were writers, critics, and artists, delving into anecdotes that showcased their wisdom and wit that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Greenberger himself was born into a household where musicianship and original ideas were encouraged. Delving into the depths of his memo books, cassette tapes and printed material, Greenberger’s memories are colorful, poignant and impressively specific. Turning his work into a touring act and live performance, he eventually put out a 151-piece spoken word audio with music from Tyson Rogers during the COVID pandemic. ‘Everybody’s Home’ touches on the vast as well as deeply intimate conversations and interactions happening while the outer world was at a standstill. While some viewers might find the pacing of the documentary a bit slow or meandering, that perhaps is precisely the point. “We have to have patience, because it takes time”, repeats Ed Rogers, one of the residents at the Duplex. Rather than an abrasive statement, Beyond the Duplex Planet resonates in its uncovering of the quieter voices, a reminder that both beauty and art is all around us, all the time.
