The documentary is out.

I mentioned the posthumous find of Vivian Maier’s huge trove of work – over 100,000 negatives – over three years ago.

I had pretty much given up on ever seeing the promised documentary for which I had subscribed as a Kickstarter project, assuming it was just another failure, when an email arrived with a link to the movie. That has a bizarre two day expiration attached so I quickly watched it and it was exceptionally good. There’s a brief 3 minute trailer available and I should be getting the DVD soon, and recommend you do likewise.

Click the image for the trailer.

That Maier was an exceptional street photographer is clear. That she was borderline crazy and an insane pack rat is just as well, for her saving of all her negatives left a powerful legacy which we can all enjoy. Born in New York, she spent much of her youth in Alsace-Lorraine, a part of Europe which has alternated between French and German ownership, depending on which nut is running the army of the time. In truth, Maier’s borderline intrusive street work and wildly obsessive nature are, like her accented English, more German than French, but even her youthful work shows the divine spark of humor, timing and composition missing from almost all street photography today.

Highly recommended, once it becomes available. Meanwhile, the above link will also direct you to many examples of her street work.