Your Eyes Will Be an Empty Word

This documentary features footage of artist Coco Fusco traveling by boat around Hart Island, which has served as a burial site for over a million New Yorkers since 1869. The island was operated by the city’s department of corrections until October 1, 2021, utilizing prison labor for burials, often in mass graves and with many individuals buried anonymously during epidemics.

Fusco's work includes a meditation reflecting on the conditions of the current pandemic, highlighting the somber history of Hart Island. The meditation is performed by poet Pamela Sneed, adding a poignant layer to the documentary’s exploration of loss, anonymity, and memory. The film's focus on poetry offers a unique narrative style that engages with the historical and emotional weight of its subject matter.