Vivian Maier can't seem to say that it won't work at all. She did not insist on a single-minded pursuit of photography. She went to babysitting because it allowed her to take up photography while supporting herself, and she lived that life and created works of great soul.
But she ended up alone and penniless.
Perhaps the life of an artist is indeed lonely. To give an example elsewhere, maybe inappropriate, but I like this one: In an episode of Doctor Who season 5, Doctor and Amy go to see Vincent van Gogh, and at the end they lie on the grass together and look at the night sky, Vincent van Gogh Holding the hands of Doctor and Amy, they saw the world in Van Gogh's eyes. The starry sky was beautiful and mysterious, and it was exactly the same as what he painted. This is the world that only Van Gogh can see, so how could he not be alone?
Maier probably did too. Her photos show that she has an unusually keen eye. In the daily tediousness, she can see the core of it and capture it in the film. How many people around her can keep up with her? How many people can understand her heart?
But she can see the world, and maybe it brings her joy—or it brings her pain, or both, we can't know in the end. The documentary didn't find Vivian Maier, and I guess it's unlikely we'll actually find her. So I can't guess what kind of person she is and what kind of life she is in the end, but what she sees is such a world, and she keeps such a world, so I envy her, and envy her immensely.
Pure personal opinion: From the testimony of people around me, I do feel that she just wants to preserve the world she sees, and doesn't think too much about other things. She thought about printing her pictures as postcards, but she didn't try harder to make photography her own job. She knows she's talented - but what's with anyone else?
But I don't think that means we should seal her work forever.
(PS I don't think the producer should be maliciously speculated. Unless there is conclusive evidence that he has bad intentions, I don't think he has done anything wrong. As far as I can see, his essence is indeed looking for Vivian Maier, There's nothing wrong with that.)
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