10 Films About Foreign Correspondents

Jul 22, 2012   //   by Rachele Kanigel   //   Blog, International reporting, Photography & Photojournalism  //  1 Comment

Rachele Kanigel is executive director of ieiMedia and an associate professor of journalism at San Francisco State University. She directed ieiMedia projects in Perpignan (2010 and 2011) and Urbino (2009) and taught reporting in Cagli in 2007. In 2013 she will direct ieiMedia's international reporting program in Jerusalem.

Sometimes innocent and idealistic, sometimes world-weary and jaded, the foreign correspondent has long been a dramatic figure in American cinema. If you’re looking for a dose of inspiration, a little excitement or a good cry, toss a bag of popcorn in the microwave and download or rent one of these films about international journalists.

1) Foreign Correspondent (1940) A crime reporter turned foreign correspondent is caught up in the espionage and danger of World War I. Alfred Hitchcock’s famous scene of an assassin escaping into a sea of rippling umbrellas is just one of the unforgettable images from this movie. Joel McCrea and Laraine Day star. B&W, 120 minutes.

2) The Year of Living Dangerously (1982) A group of journalists grapples with the political upheaval of the Indonesian government in 1960s Jakarta. Linda Hunt becomes the only actress ever to win an Academy Award playing a man—with no cross dressing or gender confusion involved. Mel Gibson stars. Color, 117 minutes.

3) Under Fire (1983) A photojournalist finds himself on a mission to photograph a rebel leader in war-torn Nicaragua. Along the way, it becomes difficult for the journalists to stay neutral. Nick Nolte, Ed Harris star. Color, 128 minutes.

4) The Killing Fields (1984) Based on a true story, this movie explores the relationship between New York Times journalist Sidney Schanberg and his Cambodian assistant Dith Pran when Schanberg is unable to help Pran escape the Khmer Rouge. Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor star. Color, 142 minutes.

5) Salvador (1986) A freelance journalist leaves his out-of-control life in San Francisco to cover the bloody civil war in El Salvador. James Woods and James Belushi star. Oliver Stone writes and directs. Color, 122 minutes.

6) Welcome to Sarajevo (1997) American and British journalists find an orphanage in Sarajevo and walk past the line of ethics when they decide to rescue the children. Stephen Dillane, Woody Harrelson star. Color, 102 minutes.

7) Live from Baghdad (2002) CNN made television news history when it became the only news network remaining in Baghdad on the eve of the first Gulf War. Michael Keaton and Helena Bonham Carter star. Mick Jackson directs. Color, 108 minutes.

The Quiet American (2002) Based on the novel by Graham Greene, this film tells the story of a love triangle that develops among a British journalist in his fifties played by Michael Caine, a young American idealist and a Vietnamese girl, but it also captures the political turmoil that led to the Vietnam War. An earlier version, starring Michael Redgrave as the journalist, came out in 1958. Color, 101 minutes.

9) A Mighty Heart (2007) Angelina Jolie plays Mariane Pearl as she embarks on a frantic search to locate her journalist husband, Daniel, when he goes missing in Pakistan. Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and killed in 2002 while working as the South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal. Color, 108 minutes.

Deadline Every Second will air on PBS stations in the San Francisco Bay Area next week.

10) Deadline Every Second (2012) In this documentary photojournalism/videojournalism professor Ken Kobré follows 12 Associated Press photojournalists in eight countries as they cover war, political clashes, financial markets, natural disasters, sports and human interest stories. Color, 58 minutes.*

*As we reported last week Deadline Every Second will air in the San Francisco Bay Area on KQED, Channel 9 on July 24 at 11 p.m. (Pacific Time) after “Frontline,” and on KQED Plus on July 30 at 10 p.m.  Kobré will be interviewed along with several of the photographers featured in the documentary on the Rose Aguilar show “Your Call” Monday, July 23 at 10 a.m. on KALW 91.7 FM in San Francisco and KUSP 88.9 FM in Santa Cruz. You can listen online at http://www.yourcallradio.org/KALW 91.7 FM in San Francisco and on KUSP 88.9 FM in Santa Cruz Listen online at http://www.yourcallradio.org/

This posted was adapted from The Student Newspaper Survival Guide by Rachele Kanigel.

1 Comment

• 
  Mary D'Ambrosio July 22, 2012 at 11:02 am

  Great list, Rachele! I would add the excellent “Reporter,” a documentary about New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, and his approach to journalism http://www.reporterfilm.com/main.html

  Reply