The documentary "The Stringer" has sparked controversy by challenging the authorship of the iconic Vietnam War photograph known as "Napalm Girl." The photograph, taken on June 8, 1972, is credited to Nick Ut, an Associated Press (AP) staff photographer. However, the documentary claims that the actual photographer was Nguyen Thanh Nghe, a Vietnamese driver for NBC who sold his photos to the AP as a freelancer. This revelation has brought to light conflicting testimonies and evidence that question the historical record.
Nguyen Thanh Nghe's assertion is supported by his own testimony and that of several witnesses, including his brother and daughter. Gary Knight, the documentary's lead investigator, began examining Nghe's claim in 2010. His team consulted forensic experts from the French NGO Index, who created a visual timeline suggesting Nghe was in the right position to capture the photograph.
Despite these claims, the Associated Press has staunchly defended Nick Ut's authorship. They released a comprehensive 23-page report detailing their research process, which includes an archive of negatives, oral histories, and eyewitness accounts supporting Ut's role.
“For the past six months, aware that a film challenging this historical record was in production, the AP has conducted its own painstaking research, which supports the historical account that Ut was the photographer,” – The Associated Press.
In contrast, Carl Robinson, a former AP photo editor, alleges that Horst Faas, then chief of photos at the bureau, ordered him to change the credit for the image and attribute it to Ut. He describes Faas as "complicated, dogmatic, and imposing," suggesting Faas may have attributed the photograph to Ut out of guilt for sending Ut’s older brother to his death in combat.
The documentary also hints at underlying racial biases potentially influencing this credit discrepancy.
“I don’t think [the AP] would’ve done that to a western photographer,” – Knight.
Nguyen Thanh Nghe expressed his emotions following these revelations:
“Thank you so much for coming to see the film. I took the photo,” – Nghe.
“I can’t express how I feel after this, I just want to say thank you.” – Nghe.
Knight highlighted the importance of scrutinizing journalism’s past with due diligence:
“When there are questions about our own profession, we need to examine ourselves,” – Knight.
“We owed it to everybody to be as diligent as possible and as thorough as possible with the investigation,” – Knight.
However, Kim Phuc, a famous subject of the photograph known as "Napalm Girl," firmly rejected Robinson’s claims against Nick Ut:
“I have refused to participate in this outrageous and false attack on Nick Ut raised by Mr. Robinson over the past years … I would never participate in the Gary Knight film because I know it is false.” – Kim Phuc.
The AP's report continues to assert their confidence in Ut’s authorship due to a lack of new compelling evidence:
“It’s outrageous that the VII Foundation has provided a platform to a man who clearly has a vendetta that’s been simmering for more than 50 years” – James Hornstein.
Bao Nguyen directed "The Stringer" and dedicated it to his parents, who grew up near the 17th parallel in Vietnam and fled during the war.
Robinson shared his relief at finally bringing this story to light:
“I didn’t want to die before this story came out,” – Robinson.