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The Review - AT THE MOVIES with WILLIAM HALL
Published: 14 February 2008

Annie Liebowitz

Focus turned on snapper

ANNIE LIEBOWITZ: LIFE THROUGH A LENS
Directed by BARBARA LEIBOWITZ
Certificate 12

I only worked once with the formidable Annie Leibowitz, when I interviewed the Brazilian soccer legend Pelé in upstate New York for a magazine.
That was 20 years ago, but I still remember it and probably always will.
She arrived with enough equipment to make Cecil B de Mille blink.
I realised I was in the presence of someone special when she posed her subject in briefs and bare feet, photographing him just from the waist down. The result was published across the centre-spread in stark close-up to reveal the countless scars on Pelé’s thighs, shins and calves inflicted by ruthless tackles over the years – an unforgettable image that spoke volumes.
This fascinating documentary (showing at the ICA cinema), directed by younger sister Barbara, shows her at work with celebrities from Mick Jagger to Julia Roberts, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hillary Clinton tumbling out of the woodwork to pay tribute to a raging talent.
One more thing. Pelé offered me a lift back to the city in his limo’, which meant I had an hour to myself with the great man.
Annie drove my rental car back, and that was the last I heard of either of them until weeks later a warrant for my arrest came through the post for a traffic violation.
The car had been found illegally parked with a sheaf of penalty tickets on the windscreen. I coughed up, because I didn’t want a criminal record next time I tried to get into the US.
So, Annie, if you’re reading this, you still owe me $200!

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