Finding Vivian Maier
Dir: Charlie Siskel, John Maloof
2013
****
Finding Vivian Maier was the surprise hit documentary of 2013. John Maloof, the films director and narrator, frequented house clearance sales and auctions looking for treasure to sustain his studies. It's certainly more interesting than working in a fast food outlet and his family had been doing it for quite a long time so he had experience. He obviously knows what to look out for and has a penchant for old photos. When he bought a big box of mixed negatives for approx $100 he couldn't have any idea of what he had discovered. Treasure is an understatement. Maloof checked more auctions and collected more of these negatives, many undeveloped, in order to collect the artist's complete body of work. The photographer turned out to be a Nanny called Vivian Maier and her work is now regarded as some of the most historically important of the twentieth century. Maloof needed to find out more about Maier and researched her life and work relentlessly, questioning the ethics of his project throughout his discoveries. Although he is not a great speaker or director (the film co-directed by Charlie Siskel whom I expect directed most of the film). With no one to inherit her photos and Maloof being sole owner, I feel that this is his way of crediting Maier and giving a little back to her, for what it's worth. It does feel at times that the film is for his benefit only and ethically, it's not always black and white. However, I believe the conclusion justifies the project and he should be congratulated for what he has achieved, for Maier and for history. It's a fascinating piece and the photographs in question are phenomenal.