Pulitzer Prize-winning conflict photographer Lynsey Addario has captured some of the most powerful images of war over the past two decades, documenting conflicts in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other global hotspots while facing extraordinary personal risks. Her remarkable career and the challenges of balancing motherhood with war correspondence are now the subject of a new documentary titled 'Love War,' directed by Academy Award winners Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.
Addario's dedication to her craft has come at significant personal cost. She has been kidnapped twice during her career - once in Libya in 2011 and again near the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2004. More recently, she was injured in a Russian mortar attack in Irpin, Ukraine, during an incident that tragically killed a mother and her two children who were attempting to flee across a bridge along a civilian evacuation route. Despite these harrowing experiences, Addario continues her work while raising two young boys in London with her husband, Paul de Bendern, a former Reuters journalist.
The National Geographic documentary 'Love War' held its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and made its U.S. premiere on Friday at the Camden International Film Festival in Maine. Director Chai Vasarhelyi praised Addario's unique perspective during a visit to Deadline's Toronto Studio, saying, 'I've been a longtime fan of Lynsey's work. It's singular. It's shaped how we see conflict, how we see war, and especially with a very compassionate eye towards women and children who are very much affected by these conflicts.'
For Addario, being the subject rather than the photographer proved challenging. 'It was very strange to have the camera on me for the first time,' she admitted. 'I felt like I needed to really be transparent about my life and who I am because I wanted it to be true and honest. And I did not want the film to be a pretty picture because this life is not easy. I think it's important to show that struggle of motherhood and being a war correspondent and the constant struggle for some sort of balance.'
One of the most significant challenges Addario faces is the gender-based criticism that male war photographers rarely encounter. 'People always say to me, how can I risk my life? How can you risk your life as a mother? How can you leave your kids alone? Well, they're not alone. They have a father,' Addario explained. 'And for some reason people assume if a mother risks her life, it's worse than if a father risks his life. I think it's a constant double standard.'
The documentary arrives at a particularly relevant time, as journalism faces unprecedented attacks and challenges to its credibility. Vasarhelyi emphasized the importance of authentic war photography in the current media landscape: 'Especially as journalism is under attack in every way possible, the idea that authentic, true images can come out and that will shape public opinion and that we have a compassionate heart behind it who's also honed her craft as an excellent photographer - the eye is great, but there's also an intention behind the photographs that I think is really moving.'
'Love War' is scheduled for theatrical release on October 29, positioning it for Oscar consideration, and will debut on Disney+ on November 4. The film is executive produced by National Geographic's Carolyn Bernstein and Tim Horsburgh, with Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Shannon Dill, and Anna Barnes serving as producers. Emma D. Miller and Matteo Brunetta are co-producers. The documentary not only showcases Addario's extraordinary career but also highlights the broader challenges faced by women in conflict journalism and the ongoing importance of authentic war reporting in an era of media skepticism.
