Never Look Away
November 22nd, 2024
MOVIE: NEVER LOOK AWAY
STARRING: MARGARET MOTH, CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, STEFANO KOTSONIS
DIRECTED BY: LUCY LAWLESS
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
The profession of a wartime journalist is not to be taken lightly. It’s often a career chosen for a person, not the other way around. But once someone develops a taste for the rush, they often become addicted to it. Over the years, I’ve seen countless films about this subject—from Matthew Heineman’s A Private War and the dark comedy Whiskey Tango Foxtrot to Kate Winslet’s portrayal of Lee Miller. Documentaries tend to capture a deeper sense of reality, and while they may not always provide the same narrative structure as films, they shine a spotlight on the men and women on the frontlines—the names we rarely hear until tragedy strikes and their deaths make headlines. Never Look Away introduces us to Margaret Moth, a CNN camerawoman who frequently found herself in life-threatening situations. When a bullet tore through her jaw, one might assume it would mark the end of her career, but for Margaret, it became a new beginning.
Directed by Lucy Lawless—best known as Xena: Warrior Princess—Never Look Away marks her directorial debut, and it’s a near-perfect fit. The story of Moth is one of extraordinary endurance and determination. Lawless has gathered a wealth of footage, photographs, and personal accounts to help us understand who Moth was. A “rockstar” at heart, Moth grew up in Gisborne, New Zealand, before moving to the United States. Her journey began in Houston, Texas, where she worked as a camerawoman for local news stories. Eventually, she would join CNN, where, in the 1990s, she developed a passion for capturing the raw reality of war zones—filming scenes that would be broadcast into homes across the world.
Lawless does an exceptional job with the documentary’s structure, blending recreations, interviews, archival footage, and a deep dive into Moth’s personal life. The latter is where the documentary truly shines, as we learn about her complex relationships. She had an intense romance with a younger man, Jeff Russi, and a strained relationship with her siblings. By interviewing people who knew Moth both personally and professionally, Lawless paints a powerful portrait of a woman who lived life on her terms.
Much like Davis Guggenheim’s He Named Me Malala, the middle section of the film centers on Moth’s time in Sniper Alley in Sarajevo. It’s here that Moth’s life would change forever when a bullet destroyed the lower half of her face. She lost her tongue, most of her teeth, and the ability to speak clearly. But the film, much like Moth herself, doesn’t linger on the tragedy. There’s no room for self-pity in this line of work—certainly not in Moth’s world. Just two years after the attack, Moth returned to Sarajevo, fully aware that she could once again be in harm’s way. It was simply part of who she was.
What makes Never Look Away such an exceptional documentary is its ability to shed light on a figure who deserves to be remembered. In the 1990s, wartime media coverage—whether of Desert Storm, Lebanon, or Somalia—was dominated by iconic images and sound bites. Yet, behind those images were the unsung heroes, the people holding the cameras. Margaret Moth was one of them—a courageous, powerful individual who dedicated her life to capturing the stories others couldn’t. Lawless has crafted a fitting tribute to Moth’s spirit and bravery, ensuring that, thanks to this film, her name will never be forgotten.
3 ½ STARS
NEVER LOOK AWAY IS PLAYING IN SELECT THEATERS AND IS AVAILABLE TO RENT ON DEMAND FRIDAY DECEMBER 6TH, 2024.
Written by: Leo Brady
