A personal portrait of the American photojournalist who was beheaded by Isis, this documentary was directed by Foley’s childhood friend, first-time film-maker Brian Oakes. As such, it is crafted with love rather than any great skill. It’s impassioned and moving, but unpolished and even clumsy, particularly in the use of music. Still, Oakes achieves what he set out to do – to show us the decent, principled and very likable man behind the shocking news story that ended his life. Although Oakes wisely refrains from showing the footage of Foley’s death, there is some disturbing material included, much of it shot by Foley himself during his time in Libya and Syria pursuing his mission to tell the stories of the normal people forced to live in a battle zone.
