Camille Guchard's documentary serves up a playful portrait of octogenarian photographer Duane Michals, who is not only known for his commercial work during the 1960s and ‘70s but is also credited with two particular innovations. One is the practice of arranging stills in a series, so that taken together a story emerges that goes beyond any of the individual shots. The other is adding text to photos as a means of exploring emotional content and conveying the image's broader implications. While this semi-autobiographical film touches on both sides of Michals's career (as a commercial photographer and as an artist), it mostly gives its subject the opportunity to present an overview of his work—including some photos from Michals's own collection, but more often pieces found in museums, held by other collectors, or reproduced in books devoted to his work. Viewers also get a taste of Michals's elfin personality in what amount to comic sketches, such as a conversation with a stuffed duck that he punctuates with quacks, or an outdoor scene in which he plays a Don Quixote character who assaults an abandoned steel refinery to “free the serfs.” Michals also discusses his sexuality, and the film touches on the gay subtext in his photos. An engaging appreciation of an influential American photographer, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
Duane Michals: The Man Who Invented Himself
(2013) 89 min. DVD: $29.95 (avail. from most distributors), $349 w/PPR (avail. from www.kinolorberedu.com). DRA. Kino Lorber. Volume 30, Issue 2
Duane Michals: The Man Who Invented Himself
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