Hank's Saloon

A gritty, beer-soaked peek at fabled Brooklyn dive bar Hank's Saloon-and the people who loved it-in its final months before closing down forever.

Directed by Leon Chase

For over 100 years, Hank's Saloon existed, under various names and owners, as a beloved local Brooklyn dive bar. In 2018, after nearly a decade of speculation and uncertainty, the rickety little flame-painted building on the corner of Third Avenue and Atlantic announced they would finally be closing their doors for good. This feature documentary follows Hank's-along with its colorful staff and rotating cast of oddball patrons-through the bar's stressful and celebratory final months. It also takes a deep-dive into the fascinating history of the building, from its roots as a working-class Irish saloon, through its various roles as a Prohibition speakeasy, First Nations ironworker hangout, and crack-era safe haven, up to its final incarnation as a quintessential "old man bar" turned legendary indie music venue, all pitted against the backdrop of a rapidly changing New York City.