Finding Vivian Maier

I went along to watch Finding Vivian Maier, this week, with my daughter Emily. Vivian was an unheard of nanny until after her death in 2009. However, subsequently her exceptional ability as a photographer has come to light. The film is essentially a simultaneous documentary of the secret life of a nanny and the almost equally fascinating story of John Maloof's discovery of her work and subsequent obsessive drive to bring to light.

For me, the film was many things, but the 'absorbing, unsettling, delightful' response of Planet Magazine probably best sums it up.

Rather than re-tell the story here, there's some good articles around which already do this:

http://www.findingvivianmaier.com

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/17/finding-vivian-maier-documentary-review

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10959448/Vivian-Maier-the-nanny-with-a-secret-life-as-a-photographer.html

For the discerning cultural and social observer there are a host of fascinating themes this story opens up:

Is excellence always necessary to be seen by others?

What part does darkness have to play for seeing things in their correct light?

How do what is secret and what is public interact?

What makes someone 'great'?

Is beauty only in the eye of the beholder?