Film Review - Bill Cunningham New York

*photo courtesy of The Sartorialist

Last night at MoMA, the New Directors/New Films Festival premiered "Bill Cunningham New York," a documentary about the beloved street style photographer. Anyone who reads the New York Times "Sunday Styles" section or works in the vicinity of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street knows Bill Cunningham. He is something of an enigma, an 81 year old man who rides his Schwinn bike around Manhattan in the relentless pursuit of snapping photos of fashion trends on the street. What is so fascinating about him, is that he is completely unmaterialistic and undiscriminating, but with a true eye and appreciation of beauty. Although his personal life is quite lonely and simple, it is overshadowed by the pure love of his art, taking photos. His genius artistic eye is admired and respected by the fashion industry and often that transcends that fashion magazines (Anna Wintour actually says this in the film). I never really understood the true genius of this man, before seeing this documentary, which captures his quirky, eccentric spirit. Everyone in the audience was smiling and laughing the entire time.

 The most amusing part of the movie is when he in Paris waiting to get into a show. A pretentious PR girl at the door overlooks him as he politely attempts to gain entrance, wearing his signature blue jacket, covered by a rain poncho which looks like a garbage bag. From out of nowhere, a man swoops in and claims "Excuse me, this is the most important person in the world." He is quickly rushed to the front row and furiously takes photos of the models and attendees, with a look of pure euphoria on his face.
I am eagerly anticipating the release of this film in the independent theatres, although I think that it will be limited to distribution in New York City due to the specific nature of its subject.

Grade: A