Masters Of Photography: André Kertész

Synopsis

The father of 35 millimeter photography was born André Kertész in Hungary in 1894. He made his reputation in the Paris of the 20's and 30's before emigrating to the United States. He was a constant experimenter. Cartier-Bresson once said of him: "Whatever we have done, Kertész did first." He died in New York City in 1985. This film was made in 1978.

Ranging over much of his work, this unique documentary presents Kertész in his own words, explaining many of his pictures. He also shares his memories of provincial life in Hungary, central Europe in the First World War, Paris in the glorious time between the wars and famous friends like Colette, Eisenstein, Chagall and Mondrian.

Kertész takes us through his archive and out into the streets of New York City to watch him shoot in his beloved Washington Square and in the medieval environment of The Cloisters.

"I was born for photography," he said. "I changed everything in my life for it. You only have one life. No hurry for me... I have the time. Everything is a photograph."