Finding Vivian Maier
Finally! I have been dying to see this movie for a year now ever since a young man named John Maloof purchased a box of her negatives for $380.00 at an auction and then later realized after examining the contents that he was onto something and that her work was really good. He needed to get the word out there and research who she was and what her story was behind the camera.
The movie came out in early 2014 but only showed in the city for a very short time and by the time I saw it advertised in the papers it was gone. Then yesterday I saw that it was showing at my local library. I called to reserve a copy and watched it last evening. It was spectacular and mysterious. It made me feel sorry for her on how her life ended physically and also that she never got any recognition for her work until a few years after her death only because of being discovered by accident. I am watching it again tonight.
Now I do not want to give too much away to the readers who have not seen it yet but her entire life story or most of it I should say, what could be found, was indeed very interesting. She was a nanny it seems her entire life and even nannied for Phil Donahue for a short time and she photographed him and his children also. Vivian was what they call a street photographer. Her work dealt with all kinds of people and emotion. Ranging from the very young to the old. She was always outside walking the city with whatever children she was caring for at the time photographing people in the street. She also seemed to have a dark side and a bit of a dark past that researches found difficult to get any insight on but everyone seemed to have a good idea she must have not had a good childhood which seemed to contribute to her hoarding and reclusiveness later in life. Perhaps the reason she did not or would not show her work.
In my opinion she had a great distrust for people, especially her family. Psychologically I feel that she became a nanny so she could feel that she belonged to a family even though they were not hers but to feel needed and have a sense of belonging, to be a part of, to be loved. I feel that as becoming a recluse grew and enclosed her life, her work is what helped her get out and mingle so to speak. It was her way of communicating but at the same time staying away.
This movie is a must see for all photographers or artist! I give it 5 stars!
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