Finding Vivian Maier
Directors: John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
Rating: (M)
Four stars (out of five)
For anyone who has had a flirtation with the vicarious pleasure that is Storage Wars, Finding Vivian Maier will be a delight.
But, it's so much more than finding treasure amidst trash.
While conducting research for a history book, director John Maloof bought at auction a huge collection of negatives shot around Chicago attributed to an unknown photographer, Vivian Maier.
Rather than just select a few images, Maloof set about discovering who the lady holding the twin-lens Rolleiflex was.
While he tries to draw a long bow between the eccentric nanny and the likes of photographic luminaries Cartier-Bresson, Man Ray and Diana Arbus, there can be no question about Vivian Maier's amazing eye for street photography.
But even more than the beguiling images is the quirky back story of her life.
Relayed through cleverly edited interview segments with some of the people who knew Maier, Maloof and writing partner Charlie Siskel drip-feed enough details to keep you tuned in to a fantastic detective story.
Perhaps the most amazing thing is that Maier would have had no idea how many of the 100,000 images she took turned out.
As is understandable with a reclusive subject, details of Maier's compulsion, motivation and mental health can only be speculated on in large brush-strokes.
Maloof and Siskel arrive at a satisfactory conclusion while leaving their audience yearning to learn more.
Now with the photos presented in exhibitions and online, you can.
- Mark Orton
