For a hotshot photojournalist, James Nachtwey comes across as a remarkably serene, quite shy individual whose soft-spoken demeanor stands in distinct contrast to the stark, visceral power of his extraordinary images.
Like its Massachusetts-raised subject, Christian Frei's Academy Award-nominated documentary is at its most effective when it focuses on those acclaimed photographs and the process involved to get them.
Closely following Nachtwey over a period of two years, during which time his work took him from war-torn Kosovo to war-torn Ramallah, Frei provides a keenly observed, amply illustrated portrait of the man and his not exactly comfy chosen profession.
Taking to heart noted war photographer Robert Capa's motto, "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough," Frei outfitted Nachtwey's camera with a microcam, effectively enabling the viewer to take Nachtwey's point of view as he must make split-second decisions, finding the one lasting shot in the middle of a burning blaze or a hail of bullets.
Although the majority of his 25-year career behind the lens has been about documenting war, Nachtwey proves equally adept at turning in photographic essays not specifically involving armed conflict. In one highly tangible instance, he navigates the intense heat and blinding yellow dust of an Indonesian sulfur mine, with his stinging eyes barely able to get a lock on the viewfinder.
Determined to figure out what drives this conflicted man -- for whom the irony of profiting from someone else's tragedy is a constant personal struggle -- Frei turns to several of his professional colleagues, including CNN's Christiane Amanpour, insightful Stern magazine foreign editor Hans-Hermann Klare, magazine editor and former girlfriend Christiane Breustedt and screenwriter and longtime friend Denis O'Neill, for possible clues.
But while hearing Klare postulate that Nachtwey "needs that flow of adrenaline and that fear of dying in order to stay alive" might shed some light, at a noticeable 96 minutes, "War Photographer" should have trusted his soul-stirring pictures to do the majority of the talking.
WAR PHOTOGRAPHER
First Run/Icarus Films
A Christian Frei Filmproductions presentation in association with Swiss National Television and Suissimage
Credits:
Director-producer-editor: Christian Frei
Director of photography: Peter Indergand
Music: Eleni Karaindrou, Arvo Part, David Darling. Interviewees: James Nachtwey, Christiane Amanpour, Hans-Hermann Klare, Christiane Breustedt, Des Wright, Denis O'Neill
Running time -- 96 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Like its Massachusetts-raised subject, Christian Frei's Academy Award-nominated documentary is at its most effective when it focuses on those acclaimed photographs and the process involved to get them.
Closely following Nachtwey over a period of two years, during which time his work took him from war-torn Kosovo to war-torn Ramallah, Frei provides a keenly observed, amply illustrated portrait of the man and his not exactly comfy chosen profession.
Taking to heart noted war photographer Robert Capa's motto, "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough," Frei outfitted Nachtwey's camera with a microcam, effectively enabling the viewer to take Nachtwey's point of view as he must make split-second decisions, finding the one lasting shot in the middle of a burning blaze or a hail of bullets.
Although the majority of his 25-year career behind the lens has been about documenting war, Nachtwey proves equally adept at turning in photographic essays not specifically involving armed conflict. In one highly tangible instance, he navigates the intense heat and blinding yellow dust of an Indonesian sulfur mine, with his stinging eyes barely able to get a lock on the viewfinder.
Determined to figure out what drives this conflicted man -- for whom the irony of profiting from someone else's tragedy is a constant personal struggle -- Frei turns to several of his professional colleagues, including CNN's Christiane Amanpour, insightful Stern magazine foreign editor Hans-Hermann Klare, magazine editor and former girlfriend Christiane Breustedt and screenwriter and longtime friend Denis O'Neill, for possible clues.
But while hearing Klare postulate that Nachtwey "needs that flow of adrenaline and that fear of dying in order to stay alive" might shed some light, at a noticeable 96 minutes, "War Photographer" should have trusted his soul-stirring pictures to do the majority of the talking.
WAR PHOTOGRAPHER
First Run/Icarus Films
A Christian Frei Filmproductions presentation in association with Swiss National Television and Suissimage
Credits:
Director-producer-editor: Christian Frei
Director of photography: Peter Indergand
Music: Eleni Karaindrou, Arvo Part, David Darling. Interviewees: James Nachtwey, Christiane Amanpour, Hans-Hermann Klare, Christiane Breustedt, Des Wright, Denis O'Neill
Running time -- 96 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 6/20/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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