This intimate portrait of the legendary Magnum photographer, nonagenarian Elliot Erwitt is sort of a documentary about the making of a documentary. Narrated by his photo assistant and trusty travel companion Adriana, turned director of this film. Erwitt’s uniquely wry, yet humane images of people and animals, in particular dogs, have long been in the popular in the vernacular of photojournalism. He has worked prodigiously for 60 years, beginning in the glory days of picture magazines like Life and Look, as well as commercial photography, and many books. His work was included in Edward Steichen’s monumental exhibition The Family of Man.

There is a sense of an end as we see Erwitt pushing his aging self to work through his disabilities with indefatigable drive and determination on recent trips to Cuba to finish up a new project to round out his work from the 1960’s when he met Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and Alicia Alonzo. It is so charming to see him work using analog cameras and minimal equipment for shooting his richly textured black and white images which never fail to capture the humanity of his subjects with compassion and sensitivity, as well as droll wit. Even though he has been well-known for decades, he still does not feel that comfortable on the other side of the camera. He also famously hates to talk about himself or his art. He flatly refuses to do artspeak.

Luckily for us, he and Adriana have developed a comfortable space in which to work, which allows her to prod him occasionally into places he is reluctant to go. In turn he allows her up close and personal time with him as he grapples with his mortality while trying to get his project finished and his massive archives in order. One of the few things he would agree to say about his work was: “A good photograph has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them”. He is living proof of that sound thinking and a delight to spend time with. And by his own standards his life has been a success which he describes as “having the freedom to do what you love whenever you want to”.

ONE THOUSAND STORIES: THE MAKING OF A MURAL (2020) DIR. TASHA VAN ZANDT

Preceding the Elliot Erwitt film is a 14 minute short about the video mural shot by JR in San Francisco. The San Francisco Project was inspired by a Diego Rivera mural from 1931 and the finished product is on view at SFMOMA. Ever since seeing one of his video murals I have been beyond curious to know how on earth they are contrived. I can only say that knowing the secret does not take away any of the power, beauty and scope of the work. It only increases the pure joy of watching this man doing what he loves. This is a perfect pairing of artists by virtue of their unabashed appreciation of life and all of its inhabitants. This double feature is a rare treat.

(The two films are screening from ICP.org through July 31.)