Love+War covers the life and career of photojournalist Lynsey Addario, in what is both a celebration and honest breakdown of her life.
The documentary very much looks at the opposites within Addario’s life. You have the contrast of a woman working as a war journalist who also has the expectations of motherhood on her. We see her attempts to deconstruct the stigma that would prevent her from doing her job and keep her from being a successful journalist, while showing how all-consuming the work can be. She continues to embrace and face the chaos of war because of her belief in her abilities and how it impacts people who see her work. Her experience and ability to be with women in spaces that men would not be allowed gives her a perspective that is inherently valuable while demonstrating that she is more than capable to do any task a man in her field would get. Addario herself is a very good storyteller, bringing us along in her life and the dramatic dangers that she has faced. This, again in montage, clashes with a lot of intimate moments that we see with her kids and her husband at home.
Directors Chai Vasaharhelyi and Jimmy Chin continue their expert work on making movies that highlight people who do very dangerous things despite attachment of the clear emotional dependency people in their lives have on them. The film also does an important job by highlighting the essential work of photojournalists and the need for diverse perspectives that help ensure stories are being told and captured for the world to see. Addario does it with the hope that policy may be changed to help protect those who are vulnerable in political and violent conflicts. Her unique work gives us insight into the many stories on the ground of conflict and serves as an excellent character study.
Love+War is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
