Product Description: {OSCAR NOMINATION, Best Documentary Feature 2002} {PEABODY AWARD, Georg Foster Peabody Award 2003} {EMMY AWARD NOMINATION, Cinematography 2004} {WINNER of 16 International Awards and Nominations 2002-2004}
Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary, WAR PHOTOGRAPHER is the compelling portrait of the man considered the bravest and most important war photographer of our time, James Nachtwey. The film has been in competition in 36 major international film festivals, played theatrically in over 50 cities and has 5 times won prizes for Best Film or Best Documentary.
Although he has won many prestigious photography awards, including Magazine Photographer of the Year several times, Nachtwey is still not well-known by name. Most people, however, would recognize his extraordinarily powerful images of the violence and suffering of wartime that have appeared in almost every major publication worldwide over the last two decades.
For over two years Swiss filmmaker Christian Frei follows Nachtwey around the world, uncovering compassionate and unsettling images from some of the most incendiary spots on the globe -- the burning farmhouses of Kosovo, the homeless and hungry of Indonesia, a battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian youth on the West Bank. Frei has created an enthralling yet solemn film about the renowned photographer's daily routine and also his primary motivations, fears and beliefs.
Interviews with colleagues, including CNN's Christiane Amanpour, help describe the remarkable personality of James Nachtwey. Hardly fitting the standard description of a hard-boiled war veteran, instead Nachtwey is a shy, unobtrusive man with the distinction of a philosophy professor and an inner reserve that have allowed him to persevere through the horrors he uncovers and records.
Pure Passion, Pure Heart and Purely amazing!!! Coming from another photographer and world traveler, I find this DVD mesmerising, a learning experience and filled with REALITY. I have traveled all around the world and seen/documented many things, however never on the negative side aside from an ancient 500+ person-filled Chinese funeral that spanned over 5 days.
I was the only Westerner (from New Zealand) there amongst 500+ Chinese people. As a professional photographer & boyfriend of a member of one of the family members of the deceased, I was asked to photograph ALL of the funeral of their eldest great-grandfather's funeral. Aside from battling a language barrier (Mandarin vs. English) with most attendees, I was also battling a cultural change that I was not used to. When I stopped to let people be at peace during sad/tearful moments, my girlfriend's Auntie asked me to please keep shooting images. I was down on my hands and knees photographing intimate moments of tears from grown elder men. I learned much about myself during those 5 days. I learned the world is incredible open to you when you open your heart and passions; even to strangers as well as I learned. At the end, the family graciously accepted me into their family and thanked me profusely for doing such a fine job in documenting such sad and personal moments for each of them. As James has always been with the people he photographs, I was also accepted and the people wanted me to be there for there sadness. Anyone can photograph a joyous occasion like a wedding, but when you photograph deeply sad, miserable, and feelings of emptiness of strangers, you really learn a lot about yourself as well as life in general.
I can only imagine the library full of sad feelings/experiences that James has. After my experience photographing this very deeply cultural Chinese funeral, I now have a new level of respect for James.
This DVD is not only celebration of a great photographer, but is also a snapshot into the reality of human existence and is a snapshot into the heart a wordly, kind, gentle man who uses his camera to let the world know of other people's sufferings.
If James is ever here in New Zealand, I would love to personally meet him to shake his hand.
Go and buy the DVD!
John McElhiney Aerial, Landscape and Commercial Photographer Wellington, New Zealand
Inspiring and Well-Made I watched this movie during my photography class at school. I wasn't sure what to expect, but this was not it. The movie was amazing, well-made, and extremely insightful. It may not have inspired me to go out and photograph wars, but it has inspired me to find a purpose with my photography and to send a message. The movie captivated me throughout, and I found myself impressed with Nachtwey's character and ability to handle himself in such deadly locations.
A must-see for any photographer, amateur or otherwise, as well as for anyone who just wants to know where all those pictures come from. Jim Nachtwey is one of my newest heroes.
GREAT What a DVD. Very interesting and great to hear the photographers opinions on many things. It give a very personal side to it. Great photos and great idea to put a video camera on Jim's photo camera. Innovative way of filming. Worth buying if you are a fan of photojournalism. Along with Richard Avedon's DVD this is the best I have ever seen
Just buy it There are a lot of words in other reviews and they say it better then I can... Seriously, Just buy it (or rent if you prefer but), Watch and Think.
The Ultimate Reality Documentary XXXXX
Near the end of this powerful film, James Nachtwey, the photojournalist profiled in it states what might happen if people could see what he has:
"What you see [in war or conflict] is unmitigated pain, injustice, and misery. It has occurred to me that if everybody could be there just once to see for themselves what white phosphorus [used in bombs, artillary shells, and mortar shells] does to the face of a child or what unspeakable pain is caused by the impact of a single bullet or how a ragged piece of shrapnel can rip someone's leg off--if everybody could be there to see for themselves the fear and grief just one time, then they would understand that nothing is worth letting things get to the point where that happens to even one person, let alone thousands."
He continues by stating why the war photographer's work is so important:
"But everyone cannot be there and that is why photographers go there, to show them, to reach out and grab them and make them stop what they're doing and pay attention to what is going on--to create pictures powerful enough to...shake people out of their indifference."
This is what this documentary does. It reaches out and grabs you through Nachtwey's photographs enabling you the viewer to see what he sees. Besides seeing pictures and moving images of pain, injustice, and misery, the viewer also gets to see poverty, suffering, violence, brutality, and famine. You also get a glimpse of the danger Nachtwey is exposed to on each assignment.
Besides brief comments by Nachtwey, there are also comments made by others throughout the film. Specifically, there are comments given by Chief International Correspondent for CNN Christiane Amanpour, two foreign editors, a Reuters cameraman, and a screenwriter. Make sure the subtitles are turned on as all comments are not in English.
Locations we follow Nachtwey to include The Balkans, Kosovo; Jakarta, Indonesia; Ramallah, Pallestine; New York City; Hamburg, Germany; and Kawah Ijen, Indonesia.
Finally, the DVD itself (the one released in 2003) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has some extras that I found to be very interesting.
In conclusion, this is a powerful film. Near the beginning of this Academy Award nominated documentary Nachtwey says,
"In a war, the normal codes of civilized behavior are suspended."
After viewing this film, you'll actually see that this is definitely true!!
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