Uncovering the Mystery of Vivian Maier, a Hidden Photographic Genius | MOVIE
LOUNGE / ART
October 8, 2015

Uncovering the Mystery of Vivian Maier, a Hidden Photographic Genius | MOVIE


MOVIE | Uncovering the Miraculous Talent of Vivian Maier: A Look into Her Mystery


The Miraculous Documentary 'Finding Vivian Maier'


Had she revealed her work to the world, she might have changed the course of 20th-century photography. 'Finding Vivian Maier,' a miraculous art documentary chronicling the discovery of this enigmatic female photographer, opens on Saturday, October 10th.

Text by KUROMIYA Yuzu





Now Revealed: A Life Lived Across Time, Known to the World



It all began in 2007 when John Maloof, a Chicago resident, posted photos he had acquired at an auction on his blog. The response was an outpouring of enthusiastic praise. This discovery garnered attention from major global media, and the resulting photo book became a national bestseller.

The photographer's name was Vivian Maier. She had already passed away and had worked as a nanny. Despite leaving behind over 150,000 works, she had never publicly displayed a single one during her lifetime.



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How could a nanny take such exceptional photographs? Why did she never show her work to anyone? To unravel these deepening mysteries, John Maloof embarked on a journey to trace her life. This film documents his entire endeavor.

John Maloof conducted meticulous research, interviewing people who knew Vivian Maier during her life. He worked to peel back the layers of mystery surrounding her.

The film is directed by John Maloof, the very person who discovered the negatives, and Charlie Siskel, a producer known for works like 'Bowling for Columbine.' It received critical acclaim as a new masterpiece of art documentary, earning numerous awards at film festivals worldwide, including a nomination for Best Documentary Feature at the 87th Academy Awards.

The Life of a Genius Photographer Discovered After Her Death







In 2007, a young man living in Chicago acquired a large collection of old photographic negatives at an auction. When he posted some of them on his blog, enthusiastic praise poured in, one after another.

However, no one had ever heard of the photographer, 'Vivian Maier,' and a search online yielded no results. Two years later, in 2009, a search for her name miraculously produced a hit—but it was an obituary announcing her death just a few days prior.


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He finally succeeded in contacting people who knew her, only to learn a surprising fact: her profession was not photographer, but nanny.

Who, then, was Vivian Maier? The search for her began.




'Finding Vivian Maier'
Opening Saturday, October 10th, at Theatre Image Forum and other cinemas nationwide.
Directed and Written by | John Maloof, Charlie Siskel
Starring | Vivian Maier, John Maloof, Phil Donahue
Distributed by | Albatros Film
2013 | USA | 83 min | Original Title: 'Finding Vivian Maier'
http://vivianmaier-movie.com


'Finding Vivian Maier' Talk Event
Date | Thursday, October 15th & Friday, October 16th
Time | After the 7:15 PM screening
Guests | Oct 15: Ryo Hasegawa (Village Vanguard Shimokitazawa), Oct 16: Yuu Hirano (NADiff a/p/a/r/t)
Venue | Theatre Image Forum
2-10-2 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

© 2013 RAVINE PICTURES, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.



Inquiries


Theatre Image Forum


Tel. 03-5766-0114


http://www.imageforum.co.jp/theatre/