Why you can trust 12DOVE Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.
John Maloof and Charlie Siskel’s engaging but problematic doc tells how a chance discovery unearthed a talented but unknown photographer: the late Vivan Maier, an eccentric nanny with a gift for portraiture and a scarcely believable backstory. With her stern manners, intense privacy and odd dress sense, Maier resembled a real-life Wes Anderson character; likewise, her square-framed imagery and hoarded bric-a-brac define the film’s playful aesthetic.
Mostly, it’s a study of an analogue ghost turned digital star; yet because Maloof is vested in building Maier’s reputation, the film leaves some uncomfortable questions about the ethics of posthumous fame.
