Park City, Utah (AP)-after half a century of public silence, an independent photographer of Vietnam has affirmed that he took one of the most recognized and shocking photos of the twentieth century: the image of a naked girl fleeing from a Napalm attack South Vietnam, who has long been accredited to a personnel photographer from Associated Press.
Nguyen Thanh Nghe claimed the authorship of the Pulitzer “Napalm Girl” Pulitzer Prize in the new documentary “The Stringer” and apart from its premiere on Saturday night at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
The AP conducted its own investigation and said it has no reason to conclude that any other person other than the accredited photographer, Nick UT, took the photo. The news agency said he was “surprised and disappointed” that the filmmakers portrayed that he had reviewed the film’s materials and being derogatory. The AP said the movie for the first time in Sundance.
Nghe joined the filmmakers for the questions and answers after the selection where he said, through a translator: “I took the photo.” The audience cheered with enthusiasm. He didn’t say why he waited so long to make the claim.
The AP said it was asking the filmmakers to launch their taxpayers from the non -dissemination agreements for the film, including NGE. He also asked the filmmakers to share a visual analysis they commissioned, and the film itself. “We cannot affirm more clearly that Associated Press is only interested in the facts and a truthful story of this iconic photo,” said the agency.
Investigate an image captured in the war fog
Nguyen says that he took the iconic photo of Kim Phuc on June 8, 1972. Nghe said he went to the city of Trang Bang that day as a driver of an NBC news team and captured the image of Phuc running down the street, crying and naked with extended arms. He said he sold his image to the AP for $ 20, and gave him an impression of the photo that his wife then destroyed.
The representatives of the AP, who saw the film for the first time on Saturday at the premiere, are disputing the involvement of the film that the company reviewed its findings and discards them.
“As recently as December, we reiterated our request to see the complete materials of the filmmakers and did not respond, or included the full answer of AP in the film,” said Lauren Easton, AP spokesman. “We were surprised and disappointed that the film portrayed AP for reviewing the film’s materials and being derogatory with the accusations, which is completely false.”
The film’s investigation was directed by Gary Knight’s husband and wife, founder of Foundation VII, and the Fiona Turner producer. Bao Nguyen, an American Vietnamese filmmaker, directed.
“I am not a journalist for any stretch of the imagination,” said Nguyen. “He had a healthy skepticism, as I think anyone would, go against a 53 -year -old truth. … But as a storyteller and filmmaker, I thought it was my responsibility and my privilege to be able to raise the history of people like Nghe. ”
AP independently investigated
Before having seen the film, the AP conducted its own investigation for six months and concluded that “he had no reason to believe that someone else who took the photo.” Now, the AP is asking the filmmakers to lift the non -dissemination agreements that they placed in their subjects to allow the company to investigate more fully.
“AP is ready to review any evidence and new information about this photo,” said Easton.
Knight and Turner met with AP in London last June about the accusations. According to the AP, the filmmakers requested that the news organization sign a non -dissemination agreement before providing their evidence. Aj would not. The film suggests that evidence was presented to the AP, which the AP says it is not true.
A main source of the film is Carl Robinson, then AP photo editor in Saigón, who was annulled in his opinion of not using the image by Horst Faas, Chief of Pictures Saigon of AP. Robinson says in the film that Faas told him that “make the staff” and gave UT credit for the photo. Both Faas and Yuichi “Jackson” Ishizaki, who developed the film, are dead. Robinson, 81, was fired by the AP in 1978.
On Saturday, a moderator from the Sunday Institute asked why he wanted to present the accusations now. “I didn’t want to die before this story came out,” Robinson told the audience after the projection. “I wanted to find (nghe) and duel sorry.”
A variety of witnesses interviewed by AP, including renowned correspondents such as Fox Butterfield and Peter Arnett and the subject of the photo, Phuc, say they are sure that UT took the photo.
The documentary included forensic scene
Robinson was one of those people with whom the AP tried to speak during his investigation, but “they were told that we could only do it in conditions” that they said they would have prevented them from “taking quick measures if necessary.”
The film’s investigation took more than two years. The journalists enlisted a French forensic team, index, to help determine the probability that UT would have been in a position to take the photo. The forensic team concluded that it was very unlikely that UT could have done it.
UT’s lawyer, James Hornstein, had this to say on Sunday after the premiere: “In due course, we will proceed to correct this wrong in a court of the court where Nick Ut’s reputation will be claimed.”
Knight referred to AP investigation on Saturday, telling the audience that the company’s statement is available online. “They said they are always open to examine the truth. And I think it was very reasonable to say it, ”said Knight. “Our story is here and is here for everyone to see it.”
He added: “Things happen in the field in the heat of the moment. … We are all stronger if we examine ourselves, we ask difficult questions, and we are open and honest about what happens in our profession. Now more than ever, I would argue. “
“The Stringer” still has no distribution plans.
