Watch Shooting Robert King

Shooting Robert King is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that explores the life and work of photojournalist Robert King. Directed by Richard Parry, the film offers an intimate and unflinching look at King's career and personal life, examining both the risks he took to capture some of the most important images of our time and the emotional toll that this work took on him.

The film begins by introducing the audience to King, a young and ambitious photographer who became obsessed with documenting the conflicts in the Balkans in the 1990s. Despite the danger of working in war zones, King was drawn to the stories of the people caught up in these conflicts, and he was willing to risk his own life to capture their experiences on film.

Shooting Robert King follows King through a number of his most important assignments, from his early work in Bosnia and Croatia to his later coverage of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along the way, viewers are treated to a number of stunning photographs that capture the beauty and horror of war with equal clarity.

One of the most striking aspects of the film is the way that it explores the emotional toll that this work took on King. As he spends more and more time in war zones, King becomes increasingly desensitized to the violence around him, and he struggles to reconcile his own personal demons with the work he feels compelled to do.

Despite these challenges, however, King continued to pursue his passion for photojournalism, even in the face of grave danger. In one particularly intense sequence, he narrowly escapes a sniper's bullet while covering the siege of Sarajevo.

The film also delves into some of the more controversial aspects of King's work, including his decision to photograph a group of American soldiers posing with the body of an Iraqi insurgent. While some critics accused King of glorifying violence, he defended his decision to capture the image as a way of showing the harsh realities of war.

Throughout the film, King is portrayed as both a fearless and deeply sensitive individual, one who is driven by a desire to bear witness to the world's most pressing conflicts. The documentary offers an intimate view of his life, including his struggles with addiction and depression, and viewers are left with a deep appreciation for the sacrifices that photojournalists like King make in order to document the world's most pressing issues.

Overall, Shooting Robert King is a powerful and moving tribute to one of the most influential photojournalists of our time. With its frank and honest portrayal of King's life and work, the film offers both a cautionary tale about the dangers of war and a tribute to the power of visual storytelling. Highly recommended for anyone interested in photography, journalism, or the human cost of war.

Shooting Robert King is a 2009 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 19 minutes.