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A new film by Italian director Alina Marazzi challenges the popular historical narrative surrounding one of photography’s most celebrated names. “The Girl With The Leica” reveals how Robert Capa, the legendary mid-20th century war photographer, was actually a collaborative identity shared between Hungarian-born André Friedmann and German photojournalist Gerda Taro. The groundbreaking film, which opened Venice’s Horizons section, works to restore recognition to Taro, whose pioneering contributions to photojournalism were largely overshadowed by the Capa brand.
Rather than following conventional biographical storytelling, Marazzi crafts an impressionistic portrait that blends multiple formats, including dramatic color sequences, archival black-and-white footage, newsreels, and photographs. The non-linear narrative centers on July 14, 1937, using that pivotal date to move fluidly between past and present moments. This artistic approach invites viewers to contemplate both the personal relationships between Taro and Friedmann and the broader political significance of their work during turbulent times.
Born into a Jewish family in Stuttgart in 1910, Taro developed into a passionate political activist and skilled photographer with socialist sympathies. After fleeing Nazi Germany, she and Friedmann adopted the Capa name as a strategic career decision that allowed them to secure better-paying assignments. Taro eventually began claiming credit for her own striking work, particularly her powerful documentation of the Spanish Civil War. The film honors Taro’s legacy as a fearless female photojournalist whose talent and dedication were nearly lost to history.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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