Zimbelism is a feature documentary about the work of humanist photographer George S. Zimbel.

A 70 year photographic voyage through the back half of the 20th century framed with presidents, farmers, prime ministers, railroad engineers, movie stars and children, the film is an honest and touching view of the human experience.

At 86 George Zimbel is one of the last working elders of street photography. A wonderful storyteller, his tales from the darkroom walk the viewer through shoots with JFK, Marilyn Monroe, Harry Truman, the real Mad Men of Madison Avenue and a David and Goliath rights battle with his beloved New York Times.

As Zimbel takes us into his lab to print, he recounts his time at the legendary Photo League in New York City and shares his own humanity in the moving and very often funny story of his family life.

The film is photographic testament to documentary black and white street photography, once an essential record of society, now under siege by the digital camera, copyright infringement and privacy laws.

Credits

Directed by Jean François Gratton and Matt Zimbel
Produced by Jean François Gratton and Matt Zimbel
Executive producer: Frédéric Bohbot
Written by Jean François Gratton and Matt Zimbel
Edited by Annie Leclair
Music by Monteca and Doug Wilde

Distributed by Bunbury Films (Canada); National Film Board Of Canada (International); And Gravitas Venture (USA)

Specifications

Genre: Documentary
Categories: Art, Society
Production year: 2015
Language: English
Duration: 90 or 52 minutes
Delivery Format: HDCAM, DCP, Pro Res

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George Zimbel's Biography