Movies about Photographers

salvador, rear window, blow up, peeping tom, the one with joe pesci as WeeGee, city of god,

War Photographer, about James Nachtwey, is quite good.

War Photographer with JN is my favourite! “Freelance in a World at Risk” with and about Ron Haviv, “The War in Iraq, through photographers’ eyes”, “Harrison’s Flowers”, “the killing fields”…

Under Fire, Road to Perdition, Pecker…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZND3eczqoIA

Ansel Adams has to be one the list as well!

Salvador is not really about photographers, intead journalists in general. The Year of Living Dangerously is another i like. Sounds of Silence is a very good film. I like the part they want to do a photo for a passport and they have no good fix. They are not all about photographers, i mean, is more about journalism. But they are very good films. Natchwey related one is very good documental about how he works, War photographer. For visual story telling you have to show el Acorazado Potemkim.

Hernan, is “Sounds of Silence,” about Dith Pran and Sidney Schanberg during the civil war in Cambodia? If so, the English title of the film is “The Killing Fields.” If not, it is another film worth listing.

Yes Barry, I known the film here as Los sonidos del Silencio. But for the images i remember the Killiing Fields fit the title.

Somewhere along the way I ran into a free download of the whole movie of War Photographer…it was associated with the Adobe Media Player and named “video.flv.” I think I saw the link here on LS. Maybe someone else knows the link from which the free download came.

The Devil Came On Horseback
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0912580/

Shooting Robert King
http://bloodtrailfilm.com/

I just watched ‘the September Issue’ on DVD. It’s a documentary about Anna Wintour (she’s really not as bad as in The Devil Wears Prada) and her team putting together the biggest ever Vogue magazine. It’s all about the editing process and the photo shoots including Mario Testino.

What about “Born Into Brothels” about the children of prostitutes in India? THa one was really good.

What about “Born Into Brothels” about the children of prostitutes in India? THa one was really good.

-The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club"
-Alfred Steiglitz: the somethingoranothereye

Paolo Gioli’s experimental films and William Klein’s TV series “Contacts” in which photographers talk about their work

Frontline, about Neal Davis in Vietnam is excellent.

oh, and Professione Reporter (The passenger) by Michelangelo Antonioni

city of god
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317248/

easy money
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085470/

Neal, try mininova.org

http://tinyurl.com/cxs7zl

Professione Reporter, The Passenger, He’s not a photographer actually…
I remember as a fantastic movie. It’s long time I don’t see it.
As I remember, more than an action movie, it shows the time we don’t take pictures.
I must find out a dvd!

"Underfire"with Nick Nolte deals with some good issues including ethics etc. Great performance by Nolte too. Cracking movie.

one of the best “tool” for a teacher of photography:

http://inmotion.magnumphotos.com/

let your students study this archive, a real pandora vase!

Just watched “La Vida Loca” by Cristian Poveda. It’s not about photography but it’s a documentary made by a photographer. Very intense, definitely not for the sensitive.

Many documentaries on photographers here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Rangefindergeneral?blend=2&ob=1#p/u

a movie – not a documentary, but a piece set in the 1840’s at the home of a man working on learning how to fix the photographic image…more of a story about two people, but one is a photographer.

The Governess

http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/governess/index.html

I rented War Photographer and think that it’s one of the worse movies ever made. The idea of sticking a little video camera on Nachtwey’s still camera produced footage that was nothing less than ridiculous. You want a decent movie about photojournalist bang-bang? Go for Salvador or Under Fire. At least they won’t annoy the hell out of you.

‘The Bridges of Madison County’…… hahaa just kidding ;))

Paparazzi (1998 film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For other uses, see Paparazzi (disambiguation).

Paparazzi is a 1998 French comedy film, directed by Alain Berbérian.
[edit] Plot

Franck Bordoni (Patrick Timsit) loses job as a night watchman when he finds himself inadvertently on the front cover of a popular magazine. The photograph was taken whilst he was enjoying at a football match instead of working. Deciding to punish the photographer, Franck visits the magazine’s offices and finds Michel Verdier (Vincent Lindon), a member of the paparazzi pack. Franck clings to Michel, is fascinated by the work and eager to serve as an apprentice. Franck immerses himself in exciting new life (and Isabelle Adjani’s dustbins), however he hardly notices former life (including wife and son) disappear.
[edit] Cast

• Vincent Lindon : Michel Verdier
• Patrick Timsit : Franck Bordoni
• Catherine Frot : Evelyne Bordoni
• Nathalie Baye : Nicole
• Isabelle Gélinas : Sandra
• Élise Tielrooy : Bénédicte
• Didier Bénureau : Dacharie
• Géraldine Bonnet-Guérin : Julie
• Tim Doughty : M.C. Watson
• Christophe Hémon : Xavier
• Jean-Noël Cridlig-Veneziano : Nicolas
• Christophe Guybet : Médi
• Stefan Elbaum : Foreman
• Dominique Besnehard : Dédé
• Hichem Rostom : Kabouli

[edit] External links

• Paparazzi at the Internet Movie Database

Saw that last one at the cinema back then when I lived in Belgium, I thought it very funny. Would love to have a copy of it on DVD for my rainy day collection. Yes sure, have seen & recommend pretty much all the other ones people have already mentioned….. except ‘The Bridges of Madison County’, I really was kidding with that… I WAS!!

Okok, alright, I admit I HAVE seen it!

Didn’t think it was very funny at all, mind you.

See if you can find a copy of Frankies House. Show that and all the adrenalin junkies will run out and buy a Leica and head for Afghanistan with the idea of living the life of danger and getting laid.

If you find a copy of Frankie’s House let me know, I’ve always been interested in viewing it…

Under the Dark Cloth, about Paul Strand. It’s a Canadian documentary by John Walker… I saw it back in 1989 or 1990 and remember it as being quite inspiring and good…

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211005/

‘Manufactured Landscapes’ is a fairly decent documentary about Edward Burtynsky. I’d also suggest that you show them ‘Baraka’ by Ron Fricke.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0832903/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103767/

The Photographer ( 2000 ).
Starring: Reg Rogers, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Anthony Michael Hall, John Heard
Director: Jeremy Stein

‘High Art’ (1998) is loosely based on/inspired by Nan Goldin, I believe…

Oh and don’t fortget that John Waters movie called Pecker …

So how about the CRAP movies about photographers? Who are the worst sinners?

Well, for one thing, Big Nose, have you ever seen the 1950s sitcom “Love That Bob” (also known as "The Bob Cummings Show.)?

Found it on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfbHCG6hfgc

I don’t care much for “High Art”(1998), but if you get the chance to see “High Art”(1991)aka Exposure, go for it!!
It is Walter Salles’ first movie(Linha de passe, Motorcycle diaries, Central station, etc) about an American photographer (played by Peter Coyote) in Brazil. My only beef with this movie is that it was never released on DVD.
Bits and pieces on youtube of course:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc9oq4yP24c

Also La mort en direct aka Deathwatch, with Harvey Keitel and Romy Schneider:
http://filmsdefrance.com/FDF_La_Mort_en_direct_rev.html

From the little-known movie Putney Swope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWoFqbYBo6M

patrick chauvel made a great documentary about war photographers, Rapporteurs de guerre…awesome piece of work and one of the few documentaries about photographers actually shot by a photographer. for more info and filmography
48h à Ramallah / Patrick Chauvel /
Cauchemars d’enfants tchétchènes / Patrick Chauvel /
Derrière l’objectif / Patrick Chauvel /
Kamikaze 47 / Patrick Chauvel /
Rapporteurs de guerres / Patrick Chauvel; Antoine Novat /

http://www.ridm.qc.ca/archives/ridm6.e/prog.hommage.chauvel.html

Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita”. The character of Paparazzo, a news photographer
is the origin of the word “paparazzi”.
The film works on many levels and is brilliant in all and only equaled by Fellini’s “8 1/2” about a film director who is lost in both his personal and creative life.

You have “Métier : Photographe Professionnel” 2 video subjects about AFP photographers, one in france (Anne Christine Poujoula, Thomas Coex and Eric Feferbergues), the other about abroad based photographers ( featuring Peter Parks).
No easy to find but you can ask to France 5 tv channel.
I can send it to you if you want (legal for an educational use).
Contact me
At least War Photographer is one of the best.

Just watched “The September Issue”. Testino is hilarious.

http://www.aphotostudent.com/?p=1288

Here is a whole wack of ’em.

I bought War Photographer and if being a War photog makes someone as melancholy as Natchwey Il stick to landscapes, oh I forgot he’s Swiss, thats normal.

James Nachtwey was born in Syracuse, NY, USA in 1948.

The correct spelling of his last name is: N-A-C-H-T-W-E-Y.

What with the dashes??

Why not?

I might put dashes in my name makes it stand out!

Not a bad idea. Name recognition is important. It might help one’s career.

How about “Flowers for Harrison” about the war in Bosnia? I’d assign that with the book “My War Gone By, I Miss It So” by Anthony Lloyd. The book is a better and more accurate picture of the situation, but the movie’s images of the region are pretty good, and both do a good job of showing what a peculiar, diverse, and interesting group photographers and journalists are.

I have produced and directed Big Sister Because Of You, a documentary on an internet brothel based on the work of the czech photographer Hana Jakrlova

www.hanajakrlova.com

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389060/

read the plot and if you are intersted I can provide you the documentary

It’s not just about photographers, but there’s a war photographer in it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAixFYnDh4

Shooting Robert King http://bloodtrailfilm.com/ has got very good reviews but cant find it any where online to watch or buy.

Better off with documentaries, but these two movies are about photographers -in a theater near you in 2010:
“Triage”, by D. Tanovic (based on Scott Anderson’s book, which follows the memories of war photographer Mark Walsh),
“The Bang Bang Club”, by S. Silver (based on the lives of four photographers & friends during the Apartheid in South Africa).

and of course don’t forget the sadly unreleased documentary made by Kloie Picot (and executive-produced by yours truly) on a group of Palestinian PJs in Nablus. Shots that Bind – trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H8ZdQrOIFU

The film won an award at the NYIIFVF (New York) but it was turned down by the Chicago Palestinian Film festival who said “This is an important film but we feel the content is too graphic for this festival”. Like, WTF, you don’t want to admit that Palestine is a bloody place?
Tobie

Weird one just out is “Delerious” with Steve Buscemi.
Try to get hold of the three part series about Magnum.
And then there are the W. Eugene Smith biopic from PBS starring Peter Riegert and the Farrah Fawcett movie about Bourke-White.
Otherwise, my favorites are The Public Eye about Weegee, and Under Fire with Nick Nolte and Gene Hackman.

Hi Janis,

“Positive” is a short film by noted filmmaker Mira Nair here in India. Saw it on tv the other day, dunno where copies lurk on the net. Nice story telling with a photographer protagonist..

My personal favourite: City of God :-)

Try this one, very good, no commercial bullshit.

Girl in a Mirror ( 2005 ) documents the work of 1970’s Australian photographer Carol Jerrems, who’s life was cut short by cancer in the late 70’s

I suggest the whole series of contacts. Photographers speaking on their own approach to photography through their contact sheets. Among them Nan Goldin, Raymond Depardon, Sarah Moon, Sophie Calle etc. Very useful for teaching photography.

Contacts, Vol. 1: The Great Tradition of Photojournalism
Contacts, Vol. 2: The Renewal of Contemporary Photography
Contacts, Vol. 3: Conceptual Photography

http://inmotion.magnumphotos.com/
Magnum In Motion, the visual narratives of Magnum Agency. I love them!

Although more of a documentary series and less of a movie, you might dig:

The Genius of Photography
http://www.bbc.co.uk/photography/genius/

Wonderful deconstruction of Kertesz, Rodchenko, Abe Morell, even Cindy Sherman. It brushes the surface of most of the History of Photo but quite well in some instances.

Cheers
Seth

These might be helpful for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X76jieUgTQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkIWW6vwrvM&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akOBuuxHj3s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzgLQw3oBOI

There is great documentary on photography called “Genius of Photography”

Good luck

Rattana

Michael Winterbottom’s Welcome To Sarajevo remains the best shot which not only documents journalists’ lives in a war zone but also questions the very nature of journalism, global politics and individuals causing change.

Palermo Shooting, written and directed by Wim Wenders, is also a great film with a lot of sub-subjects.

I strongly recommend “La ciudad de los fotógrafos”, it’s about photojournalism during Pinochet dictatorship in Chile.

Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

i loved “Salvador” it’s the movie that made me wanna be a photographer in the first place.

and nobody has mentioned Dennis Hopper’s performance in “Apocalypse Now” ?!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdWzxdhoyX4

Smash his Camera about superstar paparazzo Ron Galellla was on HBO tonight. He was oddly endearing—he has a pet rabbit cemetery in his backyard, and amusing as he describe his paparazzi rules. Plus I don’t care what the guy formerly of the Met says, he has some amazing photographs.

Itty Bitty Gang Bang
Buttman’s European Vacation
Sexcapades
Randy the Electric Lady
Exposed
Sperms of Endearment
A Few Hard Men
Breakfast On Tiffany
Debbie does Dubai
Good Will Humping

Has anyone seen Triage?

Triage is a 2009 drama film starring Colin Farrell, Paz Vega and Christopher Lee. The film focuses on the psychological effects of war on a photo journalist. It is based on the novel Triage by American veteran war correspondent Scott Anderson.

Triage could have been great (movies based on books are always tough) but like most colin farrell movies it was a bit of a flop.

“in my fathers den” is a great New Zealand film about a war photog coming home to little old NZ and digging up his past.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_gLDoCuL5Q

Joe is that the Kiwi movie that is supposedly based on Simon Townsley?

“Frankie’s House,” the story of Sean Flynn and Tim Page in Vietnam. Hard to find…worth the trouble….

No i don’t think so mike, but who knows there where a few photogs who covered the wars of the 90s who now live the easy life back in NZ. if you can find it, watch it it’s one of the best kiwi movies out there in my book.

There is a good documentary about W. Eugene Smith and his work and life in Minamata.

I just noticed a mention of this one which sounds interesting:

VISUAL ACOUSTICS: THE MODERNISM OF JULIUS SHULMAN
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewMovie?id=366026619&s=143441

Annie Leibovitz Life Through A Lens
Robert Capa – In Love and War

Janis, if you are teaching, I will second Seth’s and Vandy’s recommendations for a fantastic BBC series: “The Genius of Photography”

I’d recommend a wonderful film called Stranger With a Camera. Here is a link to the trailer: http://appalshop.org/channel/stranger-with-a-camera-trailer-two.html

I’ve used it in classes to get people talking about the role of the photographer/journalist/fimmaker and it has always led to interesting discussions.

And… Girl in a Mirror, a portrait of Carol Jerrems. …. a good film

The latest film directed by acclaimed Swedish auteur Jan Troell, “Maria Larssons eviga ögonblick” (Everlasting Moments), is based on the true story of one female photographer in Sweden from a working class background at the beginning of the twentieth century. It’s really a beautiful portrayal of the power of image making – heartily recommended if you get a chance to watch it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0961066/

“Under Fire” with Nick Nolte and Gene Hackman – cracking.

Girl in a Mirror, documents the work of 1970’s photographer Carol Jerrems, in a life tragically cut short… See more » |
One word ( well three ) Bloody Brilliant Film, a must see Documentary about one of Australia’s great Female photographers.

Paul Kiss missed posting this one, must be getting old.

Oh how I forgot about this one – “Obscura”

http://vimeo.com/5346560
A short documentary about blind photographers

I have the documentary “An Unlikely Weapon” The Eddie Adams Story. Eddie as a photographer shot 13 wars, 6 presidents and won the pulitzer prize in 1969. Eddie tells why photography was important in his life.

there is documentary about Daido Moriyama: Stray dog of Tokyo – It is not about photo journalism but pretty interesting thought in this DVD.
Also there is BBC documentary about famous photographer- I think this is the best documentary about photography history. -genius of photography.

DVD. National Geographic: “The photographers.”

‘In Love and War’ about Robert Capa, think I saw that listed above.

Henri Cartier-Bresson interview type one, ‘The Impassioned Eye’
And I very much recommend a short 30min-ish clip of HCB talking, with a slideshow of his photos, made by ICP in the 70’s I think, called ‘The Decisive Moment’.

One here about Trent Parke and Narelle Autio: http://gallery.me.com/njturpin#100039

And one about Bill Cunningham, New York street fashion photographer: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1621444/

if any of ye are into the horror…or somewhat scary…theres a movie called “shutter” – its only recent, that girl from Dawsons Creek is in it i think…im not all great with movies though – but have seen most of the ones so far but definatley a few to watch.

If interested in Documentaries, there is a great one about Light called “light fantastic” there is a good bit of photogrpahy refrence in it, and photographers being all about light – its quite interesting to learn a bit about the founding moments and events of the discovery of light, its spectrum and its properties.

Also

genius of photogrpahy if you up for a history lesson, im sure we’ve all seen that though.

Movie wise…not sure. Except that Shutter Movie, its not too bad, but dont take my opinion lol.

surprised no one has mentioned William Eggleston in the Real World

anyone knows about Restrepo? it’s from Tim Hetherington…

“Before the Rain” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110882/ *(Read the reviews…) ~cg.

How about “Frankie’s House”? I know someone who keeps recommending this movie but I can’t find it anywhere.

hey girl, go to icp (library) or log on, and get the info yourself. i am sick and tired of
so called teachers who are wasting photogra time. i am serious. plus it will teach yr students
well to do their own research.

Yeah, and no other questions about photography either. What do you think this is, girl, (“girl?”) a discussion forum?

… The nerve! How dare you ask a question that turns into a popular thread. Off with your head!

Check out my blog. I have this post full of documentaries and films.
the most part of the post (text) is spanish, but scroll down a little the webpage and u ll see the films and the rest, with the original names in the english ones.
JALAKA: Películas y documentales sobre fotografía.
Hope it helps.
Cheers

I agree with PJ there about Frankie’s house. It’s one of my fav’s. Sadly, it has been off the A&E catalog for years, as it had been available for sale on VHS in both NTSC and PAL.

I agree with PJ there about Frankie’s house. It’s one of my fav’s. Sadly, it has been off the A&E catalog for years, as it had been available for sale on VHS in both NTSC and PAL.

I agree with PJ there about Frankie’s house. It’s one of my fav’s. Sadly, it has been off the A&E catalog for years, as it had been available for sale on VHS in both NTSC and PAL.

SnagFilms is showing “Shooting Robert King” for the next two weeks for free. The film follows photojournalist Robert King over 15 years of his career from Bosnia to Iraq. It’s one of the first movies produced by the Frontline Club.

http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/shooting_robert_king

Bang Bang Club. Just been released but I have not seen it yet. Based on the well written book on South African photogs covering violence in Johannesburg. keep an eye open of it.

“City of photographers” about Pinochet Regime

http://www.laciudaddelosfotografos.cl/

With all the info above, plus my own research, here’s my compilation list.

Films:

City of God (Fernando Meirelles, Kátia Lund).
Salvador (Oliver Stone).
Blow-up (Micheangelo Antonioni).
The killing fields (Roland Joffé).
Under fire (Roger Spottiswoode)
Pecker (John Waters).
The Year of Living Dangerously (Peter Weir).
Shooting Robert King (Richard Parry).
Born into Brothels (Ross Kauffman, Zana Briski).
Frankie’s House (Peter Fisk).
The Photographer (Jeremy Stein).
The knife (A grande Arte) (Walter Selles).
Triage (Danis Tanovic).
The public eye (Howard Franklin).
Positive (Farhan Akhtar).
Girl in a mirror (Kathy Drayton).
Palermo Shooting (Win Wenders).
Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (Steven Shainberg).
In my father’s den (Brad McGann).
Eyes of Laura Mars (Irvin Kershner).
High Art (Lisa Cholodenko).

Documentaries::

War Photographer (James Nachtwey).
Strand, Under the Dark Cloth (John Walker).
The September issue (RJ Cutler).
The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club (Dan Kraus).
The Bang Bang Club (Steven Silver).
La vida loca (Christian Poveda).
Contacts, Vol. 1: The Great Tradition of Photojournalism (Various)
Contacts, Vol. 2: The Renewal of Contemporary Photography (Various)
Contacts, Vol. 3: Conceptual Photography (Various)
American masters. Annie Leibovitz: Life through a lens.
Robert Capa: in love an war (Anne Makepeace) .
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Impassioned Eye (Heinz Butler).
Paisajes transformados (Jennifer Baichwal).
The genius of Photography.
La ciudad de los fotógrafos (Sebastián Moreno).
Stranger with a camera (Elizabeth Barret).
An unlikely weapon (Susan Morgan Cooper).
William Eggleston in the Real World (Michael Almereyda).
An American Journey: In Robert Frank’s Footsteps.
The Photographers Series: Debbie Fleming Caffery.
Berenice Abbott: A View of the 20th Century.
Tierney Gearon: The Mother Project.
The Decisive Moment (Henri Cartier-Bresson).
Pictures from a Revolution (Susan Meiselas).
Helmut Newton: Frames from the Edge.
Toward the Margin of Life (Cornell Capa).
The Adventure of Photography (Various).
Ralph Gibson: Photographer/ Book Artist.
Aaron Siskind.
What Remains: The Life and Work of Sally Mann.
American Masters – Richard Avedon: Darkness and Light.
Masters of Photography – Diane Arbus.
Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt.
Masters of Photography – André Kertesz.
W. Eugene Smith: Photography Made Difficult.
Masters of Photography – Edward Steichen.
American Masters – Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye.
John Szarkowski: A Life in Photography.
Peter Beard: Scrapbooks From Africa & Beyond.
American Photography (Various). Half Past Autumn – The Life and Works of Gordon Parks.
National Geographic’s The Photographers (Various).
Ansel Adams – A Documentary Film.

BTW, I have not included many war movies that were not directly related to photography (for some reason, at one point the thread swang towards war more over photography).

Thanks Miguel for this compilation, far more clear ;-)

wow this is a useful reference…

its not a movie-more of a short, but I found it to be an incredible piece from a amazing director..

michel gondry “la lettre”

enjoy,
DanFig

I know that I may sound impressionable or sentimental, but “The Bridges of Madison County” is a very felicitous movie in my opinion.
Ok, its not about photographers, a documentary with click-click-click action, but surely is for photographers.
I love this movie. And for me is kind of documentary also.

Just watched “My Asian Heart” a doco about Philip Blenkinsop. Pretty amazing.

Arakimentari about Nobuyoshi Araki

Daido Moriyama: Stray Dog of Tokyo

PBS has a interesting piece on Pete Souza called “The Presidents Photographer”:
http://video.pbs.org/video/1672209202/

Shooting Under Fire: http://context.tv/index.php?project_id=11

Bearing Witness – The story of Women photographers/reporters in Iraq

Pictures from a Revolution – about Susan Meiselas

Territories [Larry Towell] Photographer – An amazing Doc on Magnum Photographer Larry Towell

Frankie’s House is available from Amazon in the UK. It’s a region 2 DVD and won’t play in North American DVD players, but it will play in computer DVD drives (at least Mac ones). It’s quite good, but Page’s book (Page After Page) is better.

jack

“Before the rain” is a very good movie from Macedonia

Dying to Tell the Story (documentary about Reuter’s photog Dan Eldon killed with three colleagues in Somalia 1993)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183024/