New documentary digs into who really took "The Terror of War" photo

Key Concepts

• Napalm Girl / The Terror of War: The iconic photograph depicting a nine-year-old girl and other children fleeing a napalm bombing during the Vietnam War.
• Nick Ut: The Associated Press photographer widely credited for taking the "Napalm Girl" photo, winning a Pulitzer Prize and World Press Photo Award.
• The Stringer (documentary): A new Netflix documentary investigating the true authorship of the "Napalm Girl" photograph.
• Stringer (freelancer): A freelance journalist or photographer, often working on a per-assignment basis, as opposed to staff photographers.
• Pulitzer Prize: An award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States.
• World Press Photo Award: An annual award for the best visual journalism.
• Journalistic Accountability: The principle that journalists and news organizations should be held responsible for their actions, accuracy, and ethical conduct.
• Vietnamese American Perspective: The viewpoint and experiences of Vietnamese Americans, particularly concerning historical events like the Vietnam War.

Challenging the Authorship of the Iconic "Napalm Girl" Photo

The discussion centers on a new Netflix documentary, The Stringer, which investigates the long-held belief that Associated Press photographer Nick Ut took the famed "Napalm Girl" photo, also known as "The Terror of War." This iconic image, depicting a nine-year-old girl and other children fleeing a South Vietnamese napalm bombing that accidentally struck a village instead of North Vietnamese troops, earned Ut both a Pulitzer Prize and a World Press Photo Award. However, the documentary, which follows a two-year investigation, suggests that another individual might have been the true photographer.

The Investigation and Its Origins

The investigation behind The Stringer was prompted by a man named Carl, an 80-year-old "stringer" (freelance photographer) who contacted the filmmakers two to three years prior to the interview. Carl expressed a desire to "clear his conscience" by revealing that he, not Nick Ut, took the famous picture. Executive Producer Gary Knight emphasized the importance of raising this question now, stating that the press, which holds everyone else in society to account, must also confront accusations of wrongdoing within its own profession. The documentary preview includes a specific detail suggesting Nick Ut was "too far back" to have captured the image, implying the stringer was closer to the scene. Notably, Nick Ut did not respond to the filmmakers' requests for an interview.

Filmmakers' Motivations and Challenges

• Director Bow Win's Perspective: Win, a Vietnamese American filmmaker, initially hesitated to direct the documentary. She explained that Nick Ut was a significant figure and "a beacon" in the Vietnamese American community, and his achievement of winning a Pulitzer Prize and a World Press Photo Award meant a lot to the community. Despite this potential disruption to a revered narrative, Win felt it was crucial, as a Vietnamese American filmmaker, to explore these questions in the "pursuit of truth" in journalism, particularly the possibility that another Vietnamese photographer took the photograph.
• Executive Producer Gary Knight's Perspective: Knight expressed no hesitation, acknowledging that the journey would be difficult and would likely face pushback. He firmly believes that "journalism isn't a beauty contest" and that the serious questions raised by Carl truly needed to be examined.

Expanding the Narrative of the Vietnam War

Beyond the specific question of the photograph's authorship, Director Bow Win articulated a broader goal for the film: expanding the historical narrative of the Vietnam War to include voices and perspectives that have historically been excluded from the public record. Win highlighted that many Vietnamese Americans who were present on that day have held their stories and memories quietly, sharing them only with family or close friends, feeling they lacked the "agency" or empowerment to share them with the rest of the world. The film seeks to be a small part of helping to share these previously unheard Vietnamese perspectives.

Conclusion: A Call for Journalistic Scrutiny and Broader Historical Inclusion

The Stringer represents a significant effort to re-examine a pivotal moment in journalistic history and the iconic image that profoundly shaped American perceptions of the Vietnam War. By investigating the authorship of the "Napalm Girl" photo, the documentary not only challenges a long-standing narrative but also underscores the critical importance of journalistic accountability and the continuous pursuit of truth within the profession. Furthermore, it serves as a platform to amplify the often-marginalized voices of Vietnamese Americans, enriching the historical understanding of the conflict from diverse perspectives. The film, now streaming on Netflix, invites viewers to consider the complexities of historical record-keeping and the ethical responsibilities inherent in photojournalism.