Larry Towell is a photographer with the prestigious Magnum agency. For 40 years, he has travelled our troubled planet, capturing the unspeakable. In this cinematic diary, he looks back on his profession, his doubts, the need for images, the absurdity of borders, the danger of “getting used to war” and the essence of his quest, which is also that of the film: humanity. Yet another impressive work by Matthieu Rytz, talented filmmaker born in Nyon!
What goes on in the mind of a war photographer? How does one hold onto their resilience, and cope with the horrors of the world? Larry Towell has been working in the field for the prestigious Magnum agency for over 40 years. From Kabul to Kyiv, via Ground Zero, the West Bank and Chiapas, he moves from one conflict zone to the next in order to explore the chaos and try to locate the humanity within. His world knows no borders, and his filmed diary moves from one smoke bomb to another, from a child throwing a stone to an armed soldier. This film is composed of videos, recordings and previously unpublished photographs that are as magnificent as they are painful. The voice is generous, rich with memories and mistakes. But it also gives us rare access to the artist's psyche, through his poems, songs and mantras. In The Man I Left Behind, Towell, at once rigorous ("Neutrality is the enemy") and resilient ("Home is where your friends are"), offers his unique perspective on the notion of territory.
Anne Delseth
Hubert Hayaud
The Man I Left Behind, 2024
Matthieu Rytz
The Man I Left Behind, 2024
Deep Rising, 2023
Anote’s Ark, 2018
Larry Towell
The Man I Left Behind, 2024
