"Finding Vivian Maier" is a documentary currently showing in art house movie theaters that you should rush out to see before it disappears.
The theme of disappearance is especially pertinent here. Vivian Maier was a talented street photographer (and nanny) whose work almost disappeared. The film is the story of how her work was discovered and the subsequent search for the story of the artist and her mysterious and massive body of work. It works on the level of a biopic, a detective story, and a treasure hunt, but it is also a musing on showing art versus making art, outsider art versus mainstream art and the power of curiosity. This is a perfect movie to see with friends as you will want to discuss the many issues it evokes in the viewer.
John Maloof bought a box of her negatives at a storage auction and these photographs represent a treasure trove unlike any you will see on TV's "Storage Wars". When he first googled her name, Maloof found nothing. He later returned to the auction and contacted people who purchased other boxes of hers. He was hooked and his meticulous detective work eventually untangled much of the history of this complicated, mysterious, private, eccentric and immensely woman whose work is being embraced around the world. You can see many of her works in the video below:
The French Connection
In the film, people who have met or heard recordings of Vivian Maier argue about whether or not she is French. The filmmaker visits a small village in France to uncover the truth. While photography experts may debate her merit, her work has been enthusiastically received around the world. Last year she was exhibited at Les Douches La Galerie, a gallery of contemporary photography in a former public bathhouse located in the trendy tenth arrondissement of Paris. The 10th is a mecca for modern photography with a growing number of photo galleries.
Don't miss this narrow window of opportunity to see one of the year's best movies: a great fim about a great artisit.
There's another really great movie about Vivian Maier that you should check out: www.vivianmaiermysterymovie.com
Posted by: Lucy Fisher | May 06, 2014 at 08:38 PM