The Shoestring and Visions Video present a screening of the 2025 documentary THE STRINGER, dir. Bao Nguyen, 90 mins.

Afterwards, local photojournalist Ben Brody joins for a short conversation on documenting war from up close and afar.

Film description: The work of photographers during the Vietnam War exposed the horrors committed against the civilian population to a Western audience largely unaware of the scale of the atrocities. The iconic photograph, The Terror of War, also known as Napalm Girl, was shocking in its depiction of the violence experienced by children, prompting global protests and calls to end the war. But a claim by a former Associated Press photo editor raises doubts over the image’s origins. Bao Nguyen’s film follows a relentless journey to find the truth, locating a photographer known only as ‘the stringer’ who claims he took the photo, throwing the AP photographer credit into question. In following this investigation Nguyen’s film tackles racial injustice and journalistic ethics as it questions why Vietnamese photographers’ essential contribution to this conflict have not found their place in history. More information here.

Details: Thursday, Jan 15. at 7 p.m. at Visions Video at 183 Main St, Northampton, MA. Please reach out to info [at] theshoestring.org with any questions. 

This event helps The Shoestring meet our readers and our broader community, helps our readers meet each other, and helps us fund another year of independent news for western Mass. Our paying supporters allow us to provide our coverage without fees, paywalls, or advertisements.

The Shoestring is an independent news publication in Western Massachusetts that provides in-depth and accurate journalism covering local politics, culture, and power. Read more at theshoestring.org