Archive · 3 Sep 2025
Netflix Acquires Doc Challenging Famous Vietnam War Photo Author
Imagine a very famous picture from a war, showing a girl running from a bombing.
For many years, everyone thought one person took the picture.
Now, a new documentary says it might have been someone else!
The documentary looked closely at the picture and talked to people to find out who really took it.
It claims a local Vietnamese photographer, who was never recognized, may have been the actual person behind the camera.
Netflix has now bought this documentary, which aims to correct the historical record and give proper recognition to the local photographer.
This is like solving a mystery that has been around for over 50 years!
Netflix acquired the documentary 'The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo'.
The documentary challenges the authorship of the iconic 'Napalm Girl' photo from the Vietnam War.
It suggests a local stringer, Nguyễn Thành Nghệ, took the photo, not Nick Ut.
The film's claims are based on forensic analysis and testimonies.
The World Press Photo organization has suspended Nick Ut's authorship.
- Who
- The documentary focuses on the debate around who took the iconic 'Napalm Girl' photo during the Vietnam War.
- What
- Netflix acquired a documentary that challenges the authorship of the famous 'Napalm Girl' photo, suggesting a local stringer, Nguyễn Thành Nghệ, took the photo instead of Nick Ut.
- When
- The photo was taken in June 1972, and the documentary's acquisition by Netflix was recent.
- Where
- The photo was taken in the village of Trang Bang, Vietnam.
- Why
- The documentary seeks to give a voice to Vietnamese photographers and investigate the truth behind the photograph and potentially give credit to the rightful photographer.
Nick Ut (and AP)
Documentary Team
Authorship of the Photo
Nick Ut (and AP)
Nick Ut, and AP, officially maintain Ut took the photo and should be credited.
Documentary Team
The documentary team asserts Nguyễn Thành Nghệ took the photo, with evidence supporting the claim.
- Film Title
- The Stringer: The Man Who Took the Photo
- Director
- Bao Nguyen
- Subject
- Vietnam War 'Napalm Girl' photo
- Original Photographer (Attributed)
- Nick Ut
- Possible Actual Photographer
- Nguyễn Thành Nghệ (The Stringer)
- Award
- Pulitzer Prize and World Press Photo of the Year (1973)