The Stringer

Watched at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Despite a familiar structure and themes of the Vietnam War, Bao Nguyen still opens up a new exploration and journey on discussing the background of one of the most famous Vietnam War photos known as the Napalm Girl. Provided with interesting participant discussions and direction structure, Nguyen does a good job doing a form of journalism work on exploring the origins and misunderstandings of the well-known photo. Going through the past and present to explain the historical moments and themes. It helps to understand the context of the war period, knowing of the troubles of the war and how the works of journalism is proceed.

Regarding structure, it's solidly well made. However the documentary does over stays it's welcome as certain moments felt as if repeated with it's facts and certain concepts that didn't really wowed me. Mainly because having done a lot of research of the Vietnam War and backgrounds, it didn't hit too close with me as I would have liked.

Otherwise, I applaud Bao Nguyen for creating this documentary.

For decades AP photographer Nick Ut lied about taking the Pulitzer prize winning photograph Napalm Girl. Due to the bravery of an AP whistleblower ( a photo editor at the time) the truth began to surface. Photo advocate Gary Knight takes this information and unravels the tangled web that led to fame and fortune for Nick Ut and a life of pain and disappointment for the real photographer Nguyen Thanh Nghe. This documentary cuts through the lies and rights the wrongs of exploitation. The only question that remains is will the disgraced AP staff photographer Nick Ut finally tell the truth? How many other stringers has the AP exploited in this manner?