From Jeff Nelson

Some of humanity’s most moving stories unfold just behind the lens of a camera. Lucy Lawless turns an impressive directorial debut with Never Look Away, which is a powerful documentary that captures one of those very accounts in the form of Margaret Moth. She approaches her subject as a maker of history, as well as one who captures it. 

The New Zealand-born Moth developed a deep passion and an irreplaceable talent as a camerawoman, landing an immense impact at CNN. She risked her very life, determined to capture war from the inside, refusing to back down in the face of those who perpetuate the violence, death, and suffering that she captured for the world to see.

Never Look Away explores two sides of Moth – her personal life and her career, which frequently mirror one another and provide context to her morals, values, and philosophy. Lawless initially explores her past romantic and sexual relationships, taking a particular interest in younger men, as well as her recreational drug use and other adrenaline-seeking behaviors. 

The other side of the same coin traverses Moth’s career trajectory, becoming a highly-influential figure within the world of journalism and beyond. Her war-chasing efforts became somewhat of another drug for her, although we as the audience can never truly comprehend the emotions that swelled within her, with the film itself inciting a conversation surrounding the glorification of the combat zone. Never Look Away doesn’t shy away from the danger of this career, highlighting the particularly treacherous situations she put herself in. 

Lawless occasionally touches on gender politics, exploring the ways in which Moth pushed against the grain by deviating from societal norms. She worked her way to the top of a male-dominated career field, refusing to allow others to hinder her from reaching her full potential. Never Look Away doesn’t always dive as deep as it should, particularly when it comes to the greater discourse it creates surrounding media, war, and the pursuit to capture what feels like impossible footage.

Moth isn’t painted to be perfect, allowing many of her personal demons and struggles to occasionally take the spotlight. However, this documentary ultimately examines its subject’s inner strength and examines where that comes from, from her defiance to her refusal to allow regrets to cloud her quality of life. It’s inspiring, heartfelt, and a marvelous story well-worth telling.

Never Look Away is a rousing documentary that frames the portrait of a fascinating rule breaker at the center of gripping social commentary on war media and human nature. Lawless delivers a commanding directorial debut in the form of a fascinating biopic. It spreads itself a bit too thin, rarely digging into the meat of its ponderings, but there’s no question that Moth – as both a complicated person and an accomplished journalist – is a brilliant subject, explored in a dynamic and engaging fashion.

Rating: 3.5/5

Never Look Away played Sundnace on January 18th, 2024.

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