Can a powerful photograph shift the course of war? Eddy van Wessel, the most celebrated Dutch photojournalist in recent years, tirelessly pursues the definitive image to capture the war in Ukraine. Navigating the shifting front lines around Bakhmut, he encounters individuals who, despite relentless shelling, have chosen to endure the inferno amidst the ruins. Constantly risking his life, bending the rules, and drawing on years of experience with military forces, Eddy reaches the very heart of the conflict. Accompanying him is Joost van der Valk, the film’s director and cinematographer, offering viewers an intimate look at the intense process of creating these rare images—and the deeper stories they reveal. The film poses challenging questions: Do the anti-war intentions of the message justify its brutal visuals? Can one remain neutral amid conflict? Where do we draw the line of involvement? 

Konrad Wirkowski 

Can a powerful photograph shift the course of war? Eddy van Wessel, the most celebrated Dutch photojournalist in recent years, tirelessly pursues the definitive image to capture the war in Ukraine. Navigating the shifting front lines around Bakhmut, he encounters individuals who, despite relentless shelling, have chosen to endure the inferno amidst the ruins. Constantly risking his life, bending the rules, and drawing on years of experience with military forces, Eddy reaches the very heart of the conflict. Accompanying him is Joost van der Valk, the film’s director and cinematographer, offering viewers an intimate look at the intense process of creating these rare images—and the deeper stories they reveal. The film poses challenging questions: Do the anti-war intentions of the message justify its brutal visuals? Can one remain neutral amid conflict? Where do we draw the line of involvement? 

Konrad Wirkowski