Review of Finding Vivian Maier (2014) by Conrad S — 30 Aug 2016
This film isn't juts for lovers of photography, or even lovers of art. This documentary is the tale of a real life mystery, a character study of somebody so talented yet so reclusive. It documents the little known life of Vivian Maier, a skilled photographer disguised as a Nanny.
The creator of this documentary, John Maloof, buys some photo negatives at an auction, just to realise that they are masterfully crafted. He finds an address and phone number, contacts the person, and finds out Maier died a year or two before.
From there he continues to discover all she owned, the different tellings from all people who knew her, and her secretive nature. Discovering both great and terrible things about a person that seems to be shrouded in mystery is truly fascinating.
The people involve all tell very different stories, give very different names, and very different histories. This documentary is a blast for anyone, due to the flow of the mystery. You want answers. Sometimes you don't get them.
The tale is surprisingly straightforward for such a huge mystery, which allows an easy watch. The artwork is wonderful, and all those who are interviewed have something to say. The only real problem I have is the obsessive and sometimes over-determined nature of our lead, as it constantly feels like an invasion of privacy.
Other than that a wonderful film and a wonderful mystery.
This review of Finding Vivian Maier (2014) was written by Conrad S on 30 Aug 2016.
Finding Vivian Maier has generally received very positive reviews.
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