Ron Galella, hailed as the first paparazzo (singular, paparazzi plural, meaning mosquito - originating from a reference in the film La Dolce Vita), is the subject of this documentary and in depth character study. The art of candid celebrity photography has evolved over the years, but even in the beginning, Ron was labeled a pest and bother to the famous individuals he followed and photographed. The film details his art, his goals, and more than anything else, his love of photographing Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Without a narrator, besides a wealth of archival footage of Galella, this film shows his other, more personable and understandable side, and dives into a fantastic discussion of the 1st amendment. This film contained a vast amount of photographs (Galella claiming he has taken hundreds of millions throughout his career) in addition to interviews of expert lawyers, celebrities, TV hosts, and news anchors. Perhaps the most significant perspective on Galella was presented during the Q&A when someone asked him what he felt about the modern paparazzi. After explaining his utter disgust with what the 'art form' has become, he explained that though he may have been pesky, he always respected his subjects, never broke the law, and merely tried to show 'famous people doing unfamous things.' I respect his work, and I have the utmost respect for this film. Though the film represents an obscure, even strange, topic, it was an incredibly fun and incredibly well done documentary.
In attendance: Director Leon Gast, producers Linda Saffire and Adam Schlesinger, editor Doug Abel, and subject Ron Galella
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1/23/2010
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