The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo Review: The haunting photo The Terror of War, showcasing a naked 9-year-old girl running through the streets during the Vietnam War, left an impression on many. The documentary explores whether credit has been given to the right person.
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The Stringer Netflix Director
Bao Nguyen
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The Stringer Documentary Writers
Terri Lichstein, Fiona Turner, Gary Knight, Graham Taylor
The documentary film has a runtime of 90 minutes.
The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo Review
The documentary revisits one of the most haunting photos of the Vietnam War that reminds viewers of the toll that war can take on innocent bystanders who are forced to face the consequences of the actions of the few. The photo itself is heartbreaking, and the credits belong to celebrated Associated Press photographer Nick Ut, who won the Pulitzer Prize for it. However, in an interesting twist, this documentary challenges that attribution, claiming, instead, that the photo was taken by then-freelance Vietnamese stringer Nguyen Thanh Nghe.
The documentary uses interviews, archival investigation and testimonies from former colleagues of the news agencies to explore the possibility and corroborate its claims. Veteran war photojournalist Gary Knight and former AP Saigon photo editor Carl Robinson take us on this two-year-long, painstaking investigation, trying to locate Nghe, confront decades of institutional history and finally bring the truth to light.
The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo is an ode to courageous journalism that doesn’t merely reprint old claims; it brings an investigative edge to the story that makes it an interesting watch. As the film unfolds, viewers will find themselves drawn deeper into the moral and historical inquiry that it is based on. It’s a very nuanced and interesting watch that will leave anyone hooked, as we try to understand what it means to claim credit for a defining image of war.
Moreover, the film also challenges established authorship and forces institutions to confront uncomfortable questions that we usually don’t see in the media. It brings into question very important notions surrounding authorship, credit and power dynamics when it comes to war reporting. On top of that, the discussions surrounding war reporting itself are very interesting and will give viewers goosebumps.
There’s also the angle of human suffering that we see held boldly in front of us in the documentary. It’s an impossibly devastating watch as we see archival footage, interviews and contextualisations that make it clear that this story goes beyond just copyright or legacy. This story is about real people and their suffering and trauma, and The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo highlights clearly how long-standing the effects of war can be.
However, one of the biggest problems of this documentary is that the evidence is sorely lacking. It relies on personal testimony too much and, even at that, it doesn’t present everything. We don’t get interviews with key players while relying heavily on those of Nghe’s relatives. While these testimonies add depth to the story, it’s not hard proof. This is one of the biggest reasons why this film will feel a bit incomplete to some, as it does not offer a definitive verdict. It simply explores the possibility and points a finger without making a statement, which felt like a cop-out to me.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed watching The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo quite a bit. It explores how real talent is sometimes erased when bigger players come into the picture and discusses some very interesting topics about journalism while keeping the realities of war as a steady backdrop. In the end, however, it does disappoint a bit as there really are no definitive answers.
What are your thoughts on The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo? Let us know in the comments below!
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