So, John Maloof made this documentary about Vivian Maier, but honestly, it feels less like a tribute to her brilliant photography and more like a deep dive into the life of a woman who’s no longer around to defend her privacy. A privacy or mysteriousness she was very keen on maintaining during her life. Maloof says he's bringing her work to the world, which he does, but the film spends a lot of time turning her quirks into something freakish. All while Maloof kinda makes the whole thing about him. He can’t help but position himself as the “savior” of her work, and the self-congratulatory energy is not a good look. But here’s the thing: despite all the weirdness and sensationalism, Maier’s photos? They're stunning. They show real, messy humanity in the most beautiful way, and that’s what you walk away with. The rest of it is kind of like, who cares? We may never know her real or complete history, and it doesn't really have any bearing on her art. What matters is we get to see the world through her lens, and that’s a gift. Three stars because we got to see it.

3 & 1/4 stars. This odd photographer is likely be the victim of child physical & sexual abuse. Her mental illness grows over time & she leaves behind a massive body of work that is beautiful.

2019-5-19 Very complicated. At the beginning I thought she was a warm, kids loving, and quiet person. And then for some reason which was not revealed about her inner life in the movie that she got sick, even started to abuse children. Her works were amazing. People was a difficult object for photographing. I think most of us hoard things sometimes, but you just need to get rid of something when you feel stressed.

An unimaginable story of the previously unknown photographer, which is though told with a bit too much suspense not bringing the main questions to direct answers, leaving some kind of mystery about Mayer's life and intentions.

One of the absolute best documentaries of all time through amateur historian John Maloof's fully committed historical investigation on a mysterious person who possessed a hidden artfully gifted gem accompanied by a surrounded personally declining mystery that soon led to a honorably posthumous legacy, and the film's brilliant craftsmanship and stunning presentation boosts the story further. (A) (Full review TBD)

LOVED IT. This film was fascinating. I wish we knew more about the life of Vivian Maier, but this film may be the closest we get.

Fascinating story of a complicated, often dark, but brilliant subject. Captivating photos to go along with a perplexing tale.

An ambitious investigative doc that uncovers a fascinating enigma of art and artist.

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.

Riveting, emotionally stunning and breathtaking, Finding Vivian Maier is a deep experience that combines into a modern and real narrative about a new-yorker Mary Poppins

Incrível, parece ficção.

like a giant gong struck during its opening segment, the flukey serendipity of the almost -lost- to -history of this major artist reverberates throughout this doc. its completely engrossing as simply a detective story. but in that vein it could have done a better job of clearly laying every bit of factual, biographical information that is currently known about her, in a coherent, linear way. Was she taking photos at the end of her life? What is the last photo or series of photos we have of hers? Can we hear more audio from her cassette tapes? and, can we see even more of her photos? It seems like everything and everyone connected to her during her life and even after her life are also suffering in some degree with her brilliant insanity.

It is one of those that will blow your mind.

So thrilling to discover beautiful photographs!

This is a very interesting examination of a life through visual forms. The multiple layers of viewing: we look at Maloof's search for Maier, Maier's photographs of others, tells more about the mystery instead of revelation of lives.

cinegeek.de John Maloof kaufte vor einigen Jahre einige Negative und stiess per Zufall auf eine grossartige, bis dahin unveröffentlichte Künstlerin: Vivian Maier. Nun hat er einen Film über sie gemacht. Als sie 2009 starb, hinterliess sie eine ungeordnete Sammlung von Negativen und Abzügen. Ein Raum voller Erinnerungen, denn Vivian Maier war ein Messie (so Maloof). Zwei Jahre vor ihrem Tod stiess er auf diesen Schatz. 2007 ersteigerte er einen Karton mit Negativen aus den 50er und 60er Jahren. Er hoffte, Aufnahmen von Chicago aus der Zeit zu bekommen. Was er aber erhielt, waren Menschen in Alltagssituationen. Afro-amerikanische Familien, Kinder, Obdachlose, Arbeiter - festgehalten mit liebevollem Blick. Maloof sammelte einige der Negative und stellte sie ins Internet. Die Resonanz - überwältigend! Flugs stellte er weitere Arbeiten von Maier online. Als er Vivian Maier zum ersten Mal googelte ergab das 0 Treffer, heute sind es Millionen! Dank seines Blogs wurde Maier weltberühmt! Hätte man sie bereits während der 60er entdeckt - zweifellos wäre sie eine der berühmtesten Künstlerinnen der Strassenfotografie geworden. So starb sie einsam und verwahrlost, von den Nachbarn als Exzentrikerin wahrgenommen. Ihre Fotos sahen zu Lebzeiten nur eine Handvoll Menschen. Sie ging nie ohne Kamera vor die Tür, doch die Fotografie war viel mehr als nur ein Hobby: Die Fotografie war ihr Leben. Vivan Maier war kein Sonderling. Sie litt auch nicht an Depressionen oder mentalen Störungen wie andere Aussenseiter der Kunst. Es existieren Mitschnitte, wie sie Passanten auf der Strasse interviewt und die zeigen eine kinderliebe und lebhafte Frau. Wieso führte sie aber ein Doppelleben als Kindermädchen und Künstlerin? Sah sie sich überhaupt als Künstlerin? Finding Vivian Maier ist keine Biographie, dafür eine Reflexion über diese Künstlerin wider Willen. Menschen, die sie kannten, beschreiben aber auch noch eine andere dunkle Seite, denn Vivian Maier war wohl aggressiv. Der Film setzt so ein Puzzle zusammen, in dem bis zum Ende wichtige Teile fehlen. Es bleibt ihre Begabung, in Alltagssituationen Wahrhaftigkeit zu entdecken. noch mehr Filme über Fotografen gibts in unserer Film List auf cinegeek.de

interesting but boring too.

Early in "Finding Vivian Maier" the man who uncovered her photos said he was a bit obsessive compulsive and thank goodness! John Maloof's OCD showcased a mysterious eccentric soul through sheer will and hard work. Maloof manages however to not make this film about him, which must have been difficult as he is the reason we're sitting here talking about a ghost. Mayre prided herself as being as invisible in life as we are in death. What we learn is life is three dimensional. Just because we see a person in front of us dosn't mean we know anything about them. Nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2014 Academy Awards, we find Maier was a pack rat who saved everything and more importantly she was a photographic artist who also took pictures of everything, when taking pictures wasn't cool. How Maloof unearths info and puts it together is as interesting as Maier's life itself.

A compelling documentary about a rather strange, secretive, and incredibly talented photographer whose work was only discovered posthumously. As a photography lover, this is a must, but I think everyone will enjoy this. And damn, I wish I was even a fraction as gifted as she was. Very inspiring!

A nanny in life and a celebrated street photog in death. Anyone with a camera needs to watch this true story. Netflix pick of the week.