Directed by Kirby Dick in 1997, Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist chronicles the life and literal death of the artist Bob Flanagan. This touching and candid documentary provides an intimate glimpse into Flanagan’s unconventional life and provocative art, which spanned writing, performance, sculpture, installation and video. Flanagan’s life’s work centered on his experience with cystic fibrosis, a fatal genetic disorder that causes mucus build-up in the lungs and other organs, leading to severe breathing and digestive problems. Through his art, Flanagan confronted his sickness and mortality with remarkable defiance and humor.
Flanagan found control over his debilitating disease through BDSM, specifically masochism, which became a large part of his work. His relationship with wife, Sheree Rose, which quickly evolved after meeting into a Dominant/Submissive dynamic, became a catalyst for Flanagan’s creative expression. Rose, a filmmaker and photographer, became his collaborator. The documentary reveals the deep connection between them with profound tenderness, showing a mutual admiration that transcends conventional understandings of love and partnership.
Sick weaves together footage shot by both Dick (a personal friend of Flanagan’s) and Rose herself. This connection between filmmaker and subject creates a comfortable atmosphere throughout, allowing the documentary to capture genuinely vulnerable moments in the couple’s creative process and life together. Flanagan’s family appears often, and their interviews with Dick reveal a warmth and acceptance that makes it obvious how much they care about their son. Having all these different people who knew him—his partner, his friend behind the camera, and his family—gives us a full picture of who Flanagan really was beyond his art and illness. Despite his shortened life (Flanagan died at 42), his accomplishments were remarkable. They included solo exhibitions in prestigious venues in Los Angeles and New York, as well as an appearance in the music video for Nine Inch Nails’ “Happiness in Slavery.” His honest work transformed his suffering into a powerful expression of agency and resilience, challenging viewers to reconsider their own understanding of art, pain, pleasure, and mortality.
Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist screens tonight, March 26, and on March 29, at Spectacle as part of the series “FOR PERVERTS ONLY: 3 BDSM/SW’ER-FOCUSED FILMS.”
