Vincent: A Life In Color (2008)

Directed by Jennifer Burns 

Starring Vincent Falk

Runtime 96min.- Not Rated 

4 Stars (out of 4) 

"Vincent: A Life In Color" is part of the IndieRights collection. It's available on YouTube/GooglePlay for $2.99.

For a description of Vincent Falk to do real justice, I'd need to be a much better writer. Describing the "Fashion Man" is tough because there's no one else like him. There's no picture floating around in your brain that you can use as a template.

I suppose I'll start with his most recognizable attributes. Vincent stands on a bridge in Chicago and greets tour boats as he passes by. He does so with some of the most flamboyant and colorful suits you will ever see. It starts with a wave. Then he does a little spin. Before you know it he's got the jacket off, twirling it around his head. He owns so many suits that he often greets the same tourists on their return trip after a wardrobe change. On Friday mornings you can find him outside the local NBC affiliate doing his routine. In the evenings he heads over to the ABC studios. Vincent has loyalty to NBC though. He doesn't take off the jacket and he keeps his twirls to a minimum when appearing on the rival channel. When none of those things are going on he visits the WGN radio hosts. Vince's color extends beyond his wardrobe so he's just as vivid in audio form.


Why does he do this? Is he crazy? Maybe. Is he eccentric? For sure. Is he stupid? Not at all. Is he quirky? You bet your sweet ass.

In fact, Vincent's mind is sharper than most. He actually has a full-time job as a computer programmer for a government office. His brother admits during interviews that Vincent was so good at chess that he was reduced to cheating. What makes Vincent's professional life even more incredible is his blindness. He has advanced glaucoma. One eye is totally blind and the other has 20/400 vision with almost no peripheral view. Vincent's boss says that he only hired him because of the Americans With Disabilities Act. He didn't want to pay for the extra large monitor that was needed to accommodate Vincent's poor eyesight. Now the boss is thankful for the government-required hiring because Vincent is vital to the workflow. He dresses no more subtle at work than anywhere else. He uses lunch breaks as a chance to entertain the tour boats. Don't mistake the man for a street performer. He's not panhandling for his next meal. His actions are voluntary. If he's walking down the street and gets noticed by anyone he goes right into his routine.

Besides the glaucoma, there's not much health information about Vincent in the documentary. If I were to guess, I'd say he had some form of autism. He's functional and independent, but there's definitely something different. He retains information like the computers he programs. This is a trait common among autistic savants. Their memory is more literal than interpretative. Vincent also has a hard time opening up emotionally. All of his oldest friends agree that he "puts up a wall". Often he uses humor to navigate awkward personal situations. Specifically, he's a pun machine. The news even features him in a segment on National Pun Day. (Yep, that's a real holiday. Ask your boss for double pay.) There are also times when Vincent will simply walk away from a conversation.

There's much speculation as to Vincent's motives. I think it's simply the easiest way for him to be expressive. All of the film's interviewees think Vincent performs for himself more than others. They openly ponder whether he comprehends the joy he brings to people. Probably not. Does it matter? I think the effects of Vincent's actions are more important than the cause. He's not just showing off suits, he's celebrating humanity; forcing anyone in close proximity to join in his celebration. Documentarians aren't immune to the effect and the film ends up taking on a celebratory feel.

The filmmakers are thorough in their exploration of Vincent's life in color. They reach back to his earliest memories of growing up in a catholic orphanage. Due to his disabilities he spends more time in state care than most kids. Eventually he's adopted by a loving family that has experience with special needs children. That relationship has many ups and downs that are documented in detail. It's also discovered that Vincent was remembered even before his current schtick. He has left an indelible mark on everyone he's ever met.

There's an interesting fact that's mentioned only once in the film. Vincent is gay. No romantic relationships are ever talked about. He simply says, "I knew I liked boys more than girls." There are two things I like about this. First, I like that no time is spent on the subject. I wish we lived in a society where homosexuality doesn't raise any eyebrows. Humans, especially Vincent, are so complex that they shouldn't be defined by their sexuality. Secondly, I think it's great that Vincent is openly gay. This guy is totally impossible not to like and he gets tons of media exposure. He's exactly the kind of person that could break down homophobic barriers.

There are very few films that inspire me to review them directly after the credits. This is one of them. It's the kind of film I want to tell all my friends about. It's the kind of film that may actually have the ability to make better people out of its viewers. You can't say that about "The Avengers".