1972 documentary reveals Diane Arbus through intimate interviews
A 1972 documentary filmed just one year after Diane Arbus's suicide on July 26, 1971, at age 48, offers an intimate portrait of the photographer through interviews with those closest to her. The film features her daughter Doon Arbus, her teacher at the New School Lisette Model, and her companion Marvin Israel. Arbus's own voice is heard via recordings from lectures she gave shortly before her death, captured by a student. The documentary showcases her most iconic photographs while exploring her curiosity, sensitivity, and fascination with difference—qualities that defined her distinctive style and influenced generations of photographers.
Key facts
- Diane Arbus died by suicide on July 26, 1971, at age 48
- A documentary about her was filmed in 1972, one year after her death
- The film includes interviews with her daughter Doon Arbus
- Lisette Model, her teacher at the New School, is interviewed
- Marvin Israel, her companion in her later years, appears
- Arbus's own voice is heard from lecture recordings made by a student
- The documentary features a voice-over accompanying her famous photographs
- Arbus's style was defined by curiosity, sensitivity, courage, and fascination with difference
Entities
Artists
- Diane Arbus
- Doon Arbus
- Lisette Model
- Marvin Israel
Institutions
- New School
- Artribune