Finding Vivian Maier

Finding Vivian Maier is a beautifully crafted documentary. It’s centred on a mysterious woman, who roamed the streets capturing the unalloyed reality of the view behind her lens. At first glance she was merely a nanny, but at second and third she was not only an artist, but a tender observer of the human condition.

Over 100,000 negatives were inadvertently discovered at an auction in Chicago – many of which were never seen by Miss Maier herself. The documentary is captivating from start to finish, although somewhat disagreeable at times due to the subjects being interviewed – some distract from the story itself, and the tone of the film.

The heart of the story is her wish to stay as anonymous as possible, yet all involved are rummaging through her intimate archives. This intriguing narrative hypocritically captures talent, while also treading a fine line between honouring an artist and mild exploitation; which in essence is Vivian’s posthumous fame. Such beauty should be shared, but by whom? (RBM)

****/5

BY ROCIO BELINDA MENDEZ