DVD Review: SHOOTING ROBERT KING Follows War Photographer Into Combat

The recent death of New York Times foreign correspondent Anthony Shadid in Syria is a bracing reminder that all journalists in war zones are facing mortal danger on a regular basis. Shooting Robert King is a solid, absorbing documentary that captures the naivete of a young man in his first combat zone, and then contrasts that with his meditative reflections after years of experience.

At the age of 24, aspiring journalist / photographer King arrived in Sarajevo in 1993 with $1500 in his pocket and a hazy conviction that he needed to be there. He's not exactly sure why, but the outbreak of the Bosnian War drew many young journalists, according to the documentary, all chomping at the bit to prove their mettle under fire. King felt keenly that it was the story to cover, so he traveled there, even though he lacked even a basic understanding of the reasons for the conflict or of the players involved.

Upon arrival, his choice of wardrobe draws an immediate rebuke and warning from a slightly older, but veteran, journalist -- 'If you're stopped at a checkpoint, wearing army camouflage pants won't seem so smart' -- and his first foray into the combat zone leaves him absolutely frightened, as a soldier compassionately observes: 'Poor guy, he's so scared, he can hardly breathe.'

He's sacked by his photo agency, accidentally damages the apartment he's renting, and is further rebuked by another veteran photographer, who 'doesn't see the aura of luck' that surrounds all good journalists. King, ever the optimist, shakes off the trials and criticsms with a smile, but there is a self-destructive edge that creeps into the corners of his eyes.

After four months in Sarajevo, he's only earned $400, though he landed his first front page appearance (in The Guardian) and is determined to continue in photojournalism. The footage from 1993 is interspersed with interviews as King stalks deer in Tennessee in 2007, as the older and wiser man looks back on his youthful exuberance and considers the toll of his work. Obviously, he has been changed by his experiences, but not so drastically that we can't see the eager beaver in the eyes of the savvy veteran.

In 1997, King followed the story to Chechnya, and ended up spending a considerable amount of time there. As he acknowledges, and as his photos from the period show, he freely engaged in a lifestyle of wine, women, and song. Yet he also became a well-regarded photographer, a reliable professional whose work graced the pages of Time, Newsweek, and similar publications. The photos are oftentimes jarring in presenting plainspoken tragedy.

Shooting Robert King (originally titled Blood Trail) delves into the journalist's childhood and talks with his father, an alcholic who admits he wasn't much of a parent for Robert, who says he will always be chasing combat; he's an addict, even when the rules of the game change in the new century with new armed conflicts.

Directed by Richard Parry, the documentary is sympathetic to King, but not quite to a fault. The most compelling footage dates back to 1993, yet it's balanced with King's own photography from Russia (which the film's editing attempts to represent), the Tennessee hunting trip, and an update on King, the family man. It all adds up to a good portrait of an intriguing personality.

Shooting Robert King will be released on Region 1 DVD from Revolver Entertainment tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 21.