Robert Capa's motto was "if your pictures aren't good enough, you are not close enough." The incredibly talented war photographer James Nachtwey has been close enough for twenty years. Director Christian Frei followed him for two years: to Kosovo when the houses are still ablaze; to Indonesia, where a family of beggars lives among the railway tracks; and to Palestine, where they are right in the midst of teargas and a group of young stone throwers. Viewers are given real-time access to Nachtwey's unique perspective thanks to the miniature camera attached to his still camera, which enables us to see all that he sees, as he sees it. Frei, following just a few meters behind, shows us the full context of how Nachtwey works to capture these heartrending images.
This engrossing doc includes some of Nachtwey's colleagues, who discuss his personality and uniqueness, like Christiane Amanpour, who finds it remarkable that after so many years he has not become cynical and is still full of compassion.
Nachtwey's calmness and circumspection, unusual for a war photographer, reflect the inner confidence and conviction that allow him to persevere with this tough job. Perhaps of most importance is that he remains hopeful his photos do make a difference.
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