Benita review – Alan Berliner puts new spin on late film-maker’s work in entrancing tribute

Alan Berliner completed and released the documentary "Benita" on June 22, 2026, serving as both director and narrator for the film.

Berliner spent years working with the unfinished material of filmmaker Benita Raphan, who died by suicide in 2021, to create this tribute. The documentary aims to explore Raphan's spirit, originality, and kindness, while also gently attempting to understand the reasons behind her death. Much of the visual content, including graphics and footage, was created by Raphan herself.

The film is described as a unique work, potentially a tribute, bio-pastiche, or a found-footage cinematic seance. It is characterized as an "irregular verb," a description attributed to Raphan's mother, Roslyn, in her New York Times obituary. Berliner's approach involved completing Raphan's final project while simultaneously crafting a new cinematic piece.