They say that if you live in New York long enough, you will encounter Bill Cunningham. You will see him at a runway show, or a high society banquet, but most likely you will see him in the street taking pictures of anyone who catches his eye. Bill Cunningham can be called a fashion photographer, but that would be limiting his work. He is a chronicler of life in New York City, of the people and places, and of course, of the clothes. Cunningham admits that he loves clothes, any clothes, because it perfectly mirrors the personality of the person wearing it. Even though Cunningham has no prejudice, he is able to spot trends emerging out of the bustle of New York City streets. That's why his column in The New York Times is so cherished by the fashion industry: even the highest ranking professionals like Anna Wintour take the lead from Bill in reporting the latest fashion trends.
"Bill Cunningham New York" is a documentary that follows its subject on his daily routine. And it is a routine, however unorthodox: Bill wakes up around 5 a.m. In a tiny Manhattan studio apartment, gets on his bike and sets about patrolling the streets of New York City, snapping any fashion item that catches his eye. Cunningham is an extremely dedicated photographer: he will literally jump in front of a car to take a picture. He always captures the fleeting moments, none of his pictures are choreographed. Most of the people that he photographs pay him no attention, since his face, concealed by his camera, is far less known than his work. I doubt that before this documentary was released Bill's face was ever shown on screen. He is perfectly happy to remain anonymous, since that gives him more freedom.
Bill's life is all about his work. Now in his early eighties, he lives alone in a tiny apartment and dedicates himself to photography. He can talk about his work for hours (as evidenced by this film), but he also doesn't shy away from personal questions. There are a couple of instances where he refuses to answer a question that hits too close to home, but most of the time he is honest, humble and delightful. In fact, Cunningham is such an appealing and warm character that by the end of the movie you feel like you've known him forever. There is not a single person interviewed for the documentary who can say a bad thing about him. He is reported to be a true professional with amazing integrity and a rebelliousness of the good kind, the kind that keeps him from going corporate and selling out. More importantly, he is an unbelievably positive person, who calls everyone "child" or "muffin", and appears to be in love with the entire human race. He says that his photographs are there to present the people in the best possible light, and he once broke off a contract with a publisher who tried using his pictures with snide comments.
I would recommend this film to anyone who is interested in fashion or photography. You can learn a lot from Cunningham, who, for all his modesty and lack of an ego, knows exactly what he wants to achieve and will set anyone who doesn't get it straight. It is obvious that Bill's effortless style was formed through years of hard work and self-improvement. He strikes me as a man who would be doing his job even if he was never paid or published. In fact, he never takes more money than he needs, and he doesn't need a lot. That's the thing that stupefies his colleagues, but it sure keeps him honest and unbiased.
Most of all, watch "Bill Cunningham New York" if you want to remember what the Big Apple is all about: being an inspiration for artists and providing the best birth place for works of art.
"Bill Cunningham New York" is a documentary that follows its subject on his daily routine. And it is a routine, however unorthodox: Bill wakes up around 5 a.m. In a tiny Manhattan studio apartment, gets on his bike and sets about patrolling the streets of New York City, snapping any fashion item that catches his eye. Cunningham is an extremely dedicated photographer: he will literally jump in front of a car to take a picture. He always captures the fleeting moments, none of his pictures are choreographed. Most of the people that he photographs pay him no attention, since his face, concealed by his camera, is far less known than his work. I doubt that before this documentary was released Bill's face was ever shown on screen. He is perfectly happy to remain anonymous, since that gives him more freedom.
Bill's life is all about his work. Now in his early eighties, he lives alone in a tiny apartment and dedicates himself to photography. He can talk about his work for hours (as evidenced by this film), but he also doesn't shy away from personal questions. There are a couple of instances where he refuses to answer a question that hits too close to home, but most of the time he is honest, humble and delightful. In fact, Cunningham is such an appealing and warm character that by the end of the movie you feel like you've known him forever. There is not a single person interviewed for the documentary who can say a bad thing about him. He is reported to be a true professional with amazing integrity and a rebelliousness of the good kind, the kind that keeps him from going corporate and selling out. More importantly, he is an unbelievably positive person, who calls everyone "child" or "muffin", and appears to be in love with the entire human race. He says that his photographs are there to present the people in the best possible light, and he once broke off a contract with a publisher who tried using his pictures with snide comments.
I would recommend this film to anyone who is interested in fashion or photography. You can learn a lot from Cunningham, who, for all his modesty and lack of an ego, knows exactly what he wants to achieve and will set anyone who doesn't get it straight. It is obvious that Bill's effortless style was formed through years of hard work and self-improvement. He strikes me as a man who would be doing his job even if he was never paid or published. In fact, he never takes more money than he needs, and he doesn't need a lot. That's the thing that stupefies his colleagues, but it sure keeps him honest and unbiased.
Most of all, watch "Bill Cunningham New York" if you want to remember what the Big Apple is all about: being an inspiration for artists and providing the best birth place for works of art.