When I spoke with master photojournalist Coşkun Aral, I asked him which films every photographer should watch. He shared his recommendations under two main categories. First, films featuring stories about photography and photojournalism. Then, emphasizing that we should strive to be universal rather than merely local or national in every aspect of our work, he recommended films that could serve as guides on the path to becoming universal. I made a note of his recommendations.
Prepared by: Adem MELEKE
1. SALVADOR
The story of a photographer who once said, “I would never kill anyone.” Salvador is a 1986 film directed by Oliver Stone. It tells the story of Richard Boyle, an alcoholic and drug-addicted photojournalist and war correspondent, who travels to El Salvador as a freelance journalist alongside an unemployed DJ friend. After witnessing a murder on the road, Boyle begins to discover the chaos engulfing the country. Although he initially wants to return home, he falls in love with Mary, whom he meets in El Salvador, and finds himself caught in the middle of a civil war. His preconceptions begin to crumble as he realizes that even he could find himself in circumstances where taking another person's life becomes a possibility. Coşkun Aral, who places this film at the top of his list, particularly emphasizes that its story is based on the real-life experiences of a photographer friend of his.
2. UNDER FIRE
The second recommendation is once again the story of a war correspondent. Aral suggests that Under Fire (1983) is a film worth watching, even if some parts are fictionalized. The film follows the gripping story of three journalists covering the war in Nicaragua. Featuring Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman and Ed Harris, this remarkable film is especially recommended for Nikon enthusiasts!
3. THE KILLING FIELDS
Winner of two Academy Awards and seven BAFTA Awards, The Killing Fields tells the story of journalist Sydney, played by John Malkovich, who witnesses the mass atrocities in Cambodia. The story takes a dramatic turn when his friend and fellow journalist Dith is captured.
This 1984 British film portrays the massacres carried out in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime led by Pol Pot. It presents the atrocities, regarded as one of the greatest massacres of the twentieth century, in a remarkably documentary-like manner.
4. IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY
Written and directed by Angelina Jolie, this 2011 film tells the story of the Bosnian genocide through the lens of a love story. Its powerful imagery, depicting the horrors of the massacre, almost resembles a photographic exhibition.
5. NATURAL BORN KILLERS
According to Coşkun Aral, even those who commit evil and murder must be understood within the circumstances that shape their lives. No one should assume they are incapable of becoming evil; instead, society should work to eliminate the conditions that lead people down that path. The film he considers essential viewing from this perspective is Natural Born Killers (1994), another Oliver Stone production.
6. PLATOON
Platoon (1986) is yet another Oscar-winning film directed by Oliver Stone. Veteran journalist Coşkun Aral believes that becoming a good war correspondent requires a thorough understanding of the realities of war. He recommends Platoon as one of the best films for understanding the conditions and realities of warfare.
7. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
“A photographer must be universal,” says the master. Even if we dislike the story being told or disagree with its perspective, Aral points to Midnight Express as one of the strongest examples of how to approach a subject with a universal perspective. Of course, this is another Oliver Stone film—or so one might think. In fact, Midnight Express (1978) was directed by Alan Parker, with a screenplay by Oliver Stone. And while discussing so many Oliver Stone films, Aral adds with a smile: “I know him quite well.”
Finally, the master wants to add a Turkish film to the list. He believes that the experiences of a journalist, a photojournalist, living and working in this country deserve to be told. It should be an independent film, made with a universal language and perspective. Sadly, such a film has not yet been made, he says with regret. Who knows? Perhaps it will be made in the near future, and we will have the opportunity to watch it and write about it on our pages.
Enjoy watching!
