Synopsis
Vivian Maier's photos were seemingly destined for obscurity, lost among the clutter of the countless objects she'd collected throughout her life. Instead these images have shaken the world of street photography and irrevocably changed the life of the man who brought them to the public eye. This film brings to life the interesting turns and travails of the improbable saga of John Maloof's discovery of Vivian Maier, unravelling this mysterious tale through her documentary films, photographs, odd collections and personal accounts from the people that knew her. What started as a blog to show her work quickly became a viral sensation in the photography world. Photos destined for the trash heap now line gallery exhibitions, a forthcoming book and this documentary film.
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Cast
- Vivian MaierHerself (archive footage)
- John MaloofHimself - Narrator
- Daniel ArnaudHimself - Interview Subject
- Simon AmédéHimself - Interview Subject
- Maren BaylaenderHerself - Interview Subject
- Eula BissHerself - Interview Subject
- Bindy BittermanHerself - Interview Subject
- Roger CarlsonHimself - Interview Subject
- Phil DonahueHimself - Talk Show Host
- Karen FrankHerself - Interview Subject
Recommendations
- 91
Entertainment Weekly
More connect-the-dots detective thriller than traditional doc, John Maloof and Charlie Siskel’s revelatory riddle of a film unmasks a brilliant photographer who hid in plain sight for decades working as an eccentric French nanny. - 80
Variety
[An] initially playful, ultimately haunting documentary. - 80
Village Voice
Because her tale is so fascinating, movie-making formula is all that's needed. - 80
Los Angeles Times
What we find out about Maier, revealed in self-portraits as a striking woman with a singular sense of self, is fascinating. - 75
New York Post
John Maloof’s documentary has an opening both apt and witty: Talking heads, one after the other, struck dumb by the mystery at hand. - 70
The Hollywood Reporter
[A] sleekly assembled and intriguing if clearly very commercial proposition. - 70
The Dissolve
The question of whether Maier, a recluse, would have ever wanted someone like Maloof to bring her into the light is troubling, and perhaps impossible to resolve, but Maloof’s passion for her work and his boundless curiosity about her history certainly make for a riveting documentary. - 70
The New York Times
The film, which [Mr. Maloof] directed with Charlie Siskel, is absorbing, touching and satisfyingly enjoyable because Maier was a fascinating, poignant and somewhat enigmatic woman.
