War Photographer (2001)

80% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
91% of users liked it
(2,509 ratings)

Christian Frei's documentary War Photographer follows acclaimed photojournalist James Nachtwey as he finds stories in some of the most desolate locations on the planet. The distinctive look of the film is achieved because Frei mounted a small camera on Nachtwey's camera. As the audience sees… More Christian Frei's documentary War Photographer follows acclaimed photojournalist James Nachtwey as he finds stories in some of the most desolate locations on the planet. The distinctive look of the film is achieved because Frei mounted a small camera on Nachtwey's camera. As the audience sees the world Nachtwey sees through his camera, a series of talking heads explain his bravery, greatness, and persistence. Slowly, the film reveals the emotional toll his work has taken on him. War Photographer was screened at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

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Directed By: Christian Frei
Genres: Documentary, Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Art House & International, Special Interest

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Nov 25, 2003
Studio: First Run Features

Critic Reviews

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
This film is an act of spiritual faith -- an eloquent, deeply felt meditation on the nature of compassion.
William Snyder, Dallas Morning News
It's as close as we'll ever come to looking through a photographer's viewfinder as he works.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Watching War Photographer, you come to believe that Nachtwey hates the wars he shows and empathizes with the victims he reveals.
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
Nachtwey clears the cynicism right out of you. He makes you realize that deep inside righteousness can be found a tough beauty.
Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter
Frei provides a keenly observed, amply illustrated portrait of the man and his not exactly comfy chosen profession.
John Anderson, Newsday
What [Frei] gives us ... is a man who uses the damage of war -- far more often than the warfare itself -- to create the kind of art shots that fill gallery shows.
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide
Photographs tell stories, and in this case, they tell more than shots of guys looking for photos.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
[There are] moments of breathtaking visual splendor...
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
War Photographer is a powerful documentary about a gifted and idealistic peace maker in a world torn by conflict, pain and suffering.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
A worthy tribute to a man and his colleagues who risk their lives to bring us the true story of the world.
Phil Hall, Film Threat
Intriguing Oscar-nominated documentary.
Tor Thorsen, Reel.com
Both the film and Nachtwey's photos hammer home the grim reality of the world's gutters and battlefields, and will make you question what 'news' really is.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
It's almost too much to watch, and, frankly, I dare anyone to sit through this movie without having to leave the theatre.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
If you ever wondered what it would be like to be smack in the middle of a war zone armed with nothing but a camera, this Oscar-nominated documentary takes you there.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
A film at once depressing and uplifting--depressing in terms of the sad, often horrifying subjects of Nachtwey's photographs but uplifting in terms of his commitment and integrity.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Uplifting as only a document of the worst possibilities of mankind can be, and among the best films of the year.
Kim Williamson, Boxoffice Magazine
Although commentary on Nachtwey is provided ... it's the image that really tells the tale.
Maria Garcia, Film Journal International
In the second half of the film, Frei's control loosens in direct proportion to the amount of screen time he gives Nachtwey for self-analysis.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Frei assembles a fascinating profile of a deeply humanistic artist who, in spite of all that he's witnessed, remains surprisingly idealistic, and retains an extraordinary faith in the ability of images to communicate the truth of the world around him.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

"War Photographer" is an intense, sometimes overwhelming, documentary about James Nachtwey, a noted photographer who specializes in conflict zones around the world. That alone makes his friends and colleagues(including Christiane Amanpour) very, very nervous about his… More
"War Photographer" is an intense, sometimes overwhelming, documentary about James Nachtwey, a noted photographer who specializes in conflict zones around the world. That alone makes his friends and colleagues(including Christiane Amanpour) very, very nervous about his well-being and he has been wounded on more than one occasion.(The documentary was made in 2001. According to Wikipedia, Nacthwey is still alive, thankfully.) They are also concerned with what in his personal life he may sacrificed in the name of his career. From all of what he has seen, including the view of the Brooklyn Bridge from his apartment and both the best and worst of humanity, and accomplished in bringing those images to the general public, it is safe to say that this is probably the life he wanted for himself since he started out in the wake of the Vietnam War when he noticed that photographs could tell the truth that the government did not want told.(More recently, the government has fought not to have the photographs of abused captives and caskets of returning soldiers released.) Along with photographing the results of atrocities in Kosovo and Rwanda, there is also footage of Nachtwey photographing a clash in the West Bank where he is tear gased and a sulfur mine in Indonesia. Kudos to the video cameraman on this footage, as there is also video footage shot directly from his camera to show exactly what is in his line of vision. That's not to mention the superb edit from one train in Indonesia to another in Hamburg, connecting the world. In a more general fashion, "War Photographer" is very insightful about the profession and dispels a good deal of the myths surrounding it. But it wrongfully scapegoats escapism as a reason why people do not care. We all need to escape occasionally from the real world(nobody needs reality television, however), just as long as that is balanced with some hard news. From a human rights point of view, the trick is to find a way to engage the average person in what is happening around the world on an everyday basis and these images might be the best way to do that.

War Photographer (2001)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

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