Bill Cunningham New York

Bill Cunningham takes photographs of the clothes that people are wearing on the streets of New York. He does this every day, getting around on his bicycle, wearing his trade-mark blue jacket. In the evenings he rides his bicycle to New York’s leading social events, where he takes photos of what the celebrities are wearing. His photos are published in the New York Times (http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/style/on-the-street/1247463985977/index.html). He is 83 years old and he has been doing this since 1978. Richard Press and Philip Gefter have made this documentary about Bill, his photos and daily life. It is extraordinary, one of the most moving and inspiring films I will very see. Since seeing this film at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago about a month ago I have thought about it almost every single day. What makes it extraordinary is Bill’s singular dedication to, and passion for, what he does. Following his passion with this much dedication has done two exceptional things. One, it has made Bill one of the most important people in the world of fashion, although he does not even consider himself a “fashion photographer”. There is a wonderful scene, where after struggling to gain access to a Paris fashion show, Bill is recognised and ushered in by someone who describes him as “the most important man in the world”. Two, it has made him one of the happiest people you are ever likely to see. His happiness is so obvious and palpable that you cannot help but be moved and inspired. Here truly is a man who is doing what he loves and as a result needs very little else. His needs could not be simpler. For most of the last 30 years he has lived in a rented studio in Carnegie Hall, which is filled with filing cabinets of his photos. His bed is a thin mattress spread on top of some of the cabinets. He buys his blue jackets in Paris. From a high-end boutique designer store? No, they are the jackets worn by French garbage collectors. He buys them in bulk because they tend to wear out from rubbing against his camera, which is as much a permanent part of his wardrobe as anything else. I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. It should be compulsory viewing in schools so that kids can see the type of happiness that can only be gained from pursuing your true passion in life.