B for Bartleby 2026
In *B for Bartleby (2026)*, director Angela Summereder crafts a deeply personal documentary essay that confronts loss, legacy, and the enduring power of Herman Melville's enigmatic short story.
Director: Angela Summereder
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is B for Bartleby (2026) about?
*B for Bartleby* traces director Angela Summereder's emotional journey following the death of a friend who spent his life trying to film Melville's *Bartleby the Scrivener*. The documentary weaves together a pilgrimage to Melville's farmhouse, performative experiments with women embodying the story's themes, and quiet meditations on rebellion and silence.
Who directed B for Bartleby?
Angela Summereder directs *B for Bartleby*, blending documentary filmmaking with personal essay to explore Melville's classic in a fresh light.
Who stars in B for Bartleby?
The film features Beatrice Frey, Maxi Blaha, Anna Mendelssohn, Leopold von Verschuer, and Alex Deutinger among its central participants.
Is B for Bartleby (2026) worth watching?
As a documentary essay, *B for Bartleby* (2026) offers a unique blend of personal reflection and literary exploration, though its niche subject matter may appeal more to fans of experimental film than mainstream audiences. Its concise runtime and thematic depth make it a compelling watch for those intrigued by the interplay of art and memory.
How long is B for Bartleby?
The film runs for 72 minutes.
🎥 Trailer
About B for Bartleby (2026) — A documentary essay on legacy, literature, and the stories we never finish
In *B for Bartleby (2026)*, director Angela Summereder crafts a deeply personal documentary essay that confronts loss, legacy, and the enduring power of Herman Melville's enigmatic short story. At its heart lies a haunting re-encounter with a late friend whose lifelong obsession was to adapt *Bartleby the Scrivener* into film. The journey unfolds in two vivid acts: first, a pilgrimage to the Melville farmhouse in the USA, where the writer's own struggles with familial expectations echo through the present; second, a series of performative experiments where women attempt to embody the story's themes while men grapple with its silent rebellion. Blending intimate reflection with bold cinematic inquiry, Summereder's film transforms a classic into a living meditation on duty, resistance, and the stories we inherit.
Cinematic in scope yet fiercely intimate, *B for Bartleby (2026)* lingers in the spaces between literature and life, probing how art shapes identity. With a runtime of just over an hour, it's a compact but dense exploration that invites viewers to question their own relationship with the stories they've been taught to obey—and those they've chosen to ignore.