After the death of photojournalist Ernest Withers in 2007, a shocking investigation found that a respected Memphis photographer known for taking more than one million photographs of black life in the 20th century was paid a salary by the FBI. It was revealed that he was also an informant for
documentary”person taking pictures“Who Killed Malcolm X?”, directed by Phil Bertelsen, uses this fact as a gateway to a compelling Withers biography. Withers’ photographs helped document important events in the civil rights movement, including Martin and his Reverend Luther. King Jr.’s last days were spent supporting his 1968 sanitation workers’ strike in Memphis.
“The Picture Taker” offers several perspectives on Withers’ relationship with the FBI, and is based on the 2021 historical drama Judas, which deals with the murder of Withers, an activist and leader of Chicago’s Black Panther Party. and the Black Messiah, it is clearly not confined to any particular side. Fred Hampton on a similar subject.
But the reason you’re watching this documentary isn’t to discuss Withers’ motives. That’s a look at his impressive archive of how Berthelsen was wise to build the film.
From coverage of the Emmett Till trial in Mississippi to everyday black weddings and first communions in Memphis, Withers’ photography gives the documentary a consistent visual language from start to finish.
“The Picture Taker” expertly renders photographic images for the screen. It graphically alters Withers’ likeness, transforming it into animations and cutouts that tell his picture, bringing him into the foreground from the background in which he often lived.
Ultimately, the film immerses viewers in Withers’ considerable storytelling abilities as an image maker, while also examining his motives for taking those very pictures.
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Unrated. Running time: 1 hour 20 minutes. at the theater.