Bill Cunningham New York

     It was one night during Welcome Week that, in the process of familiarizing myself with the area surrounding NYU, I stumbled upon a small movie theatre with the title "Bill Cunningham, New York" radiating from the overhead marquee. "Guys! Look!" I called to my friends. "I didn't know that movie was still playing!" They glanced up with a minimal amount of interest before continuing down the street. No one appreciated my excitement or expressed even remote desire to see the film...which is why I am sharing this with you fine people, true appreciators of photography.
    In case you don't know, Bill Cunningham is a fashion photographer for the New York Times. The eccentric octogenarian peddles around NYC on a bicycle, photographing the latest and greatest in street style. He processes his film at a local convenience store and is recognized by his simple blue windbreaker. He is charmingly low-key and very surreptitious in the capturing of his snapshots.
     Documentary filmmaker Richard Press decided to take a look at Cunningham's life, catching snippets of  his days and glimpsing into his past. When I heard about this film last April I asked my mom, who faithfully reads the New York Time Style section every Sunday, to accompany me to the Cable Car Cinema in Providence, RI to see the film. It was the most poignant and interesting film I had seen in a long time. It so beautifully captured the essence of this man. His dry humor had me belly-laughing in the theatre. There were moments of seriousness as well. Cunningham, who has been living in one of the artist's apartments above Carnegie Hall, was told by the new artistic director that he must leave so that the apartments can be converted to offices. This is more or less the central conflict in the film; Cunningham now faces the challenge of finding a place to accomodate his dozens of file cabinets filled with thousands of photographs and negatives.
     Although we are only given a glimpse of Cunningham's personal life (he is very careful about what he reveals; an obstacle Press handles delicately and effectively) I left the theatre with a longing to spend more time with this absolutely delightful man. Bill Cunningham is New York...the film seemed to drive at least that much home.

     I wish I could remember the name of the theatre where I saw the movie title. I checked the website and it doesn't seem to be playing anywhere around here anymore. Thankfully, it is available on DVD. I would recommend it to all of you, especially the aspiring fashion photographers among us.

     If you happen to rent it, give me a call...I would love to enjoy Bill Cunningham's company again!
     And yours too, of course:)