Directors: Jacqui Morris, David Morris
Starring: Don McCullin, Harold Evans
Running Time: 90 minutes
Certificate: 15
Documentaries are often perceived as boring and pretentious. Whilst it is true some fit that bill, equally the reality on show can prove more powerful than fiction, and MCCULLIN is a fine example of the latter.
Exploring the ethics behind war photography, and the toll it takes on the man behind the camera, MCCULLIN uses interview footage with McCullin and his old newspaper editor Harold Evans, alongside archive video from the various wars McCullin covered next to his private photos. All of this tracks his career from the early days taking pictures of a local gang in North London, to his termination at ‘The Times’ after 18 successful years. The format works really well and the engaging composition keeps the viewer engrossed.
The archive footage is incredibly strong and strengthened by McCullin’s tales that seem to become more and more horrible with each war he covers. Don McCullin has experienced so much horror that it is surprising he can even function, yet he remains composed and eloquent throughout and is frank about his role and doubts about whether he was doing the right thing. This can come across as arrogant, but there are peeks of the traumas that seem to haunt him to this day.
The small flaws of the film are mainly due to the lack of depth on McCullin’s life after The Times, and how he manages to adapt to the sudden lack of thrills. These don’t take away from the fact that MCCULLIN is a brilliant piece of work and will have a profound affect on you and your views on war photography.
MCCULLIN is out on DVD & Blu-Ray on 25th February. You can order it via this link.
