The biggest takeaway I got from director Lucy Lawless‘ “Never Look Away” is this: Margaret Moth was an absolute badass. This documentary about the first camerawoman for TV New Zealand (and war videographer for CNN) and her penchant for walking on the edge takes an interesting subject with which few are familiar and creates an engrossing chronicle of her wild life and times.
Lawless constructs her documentary nicely, burying the lede until it’s the perfect time for a reveal. She uses archival footage and clips to build a complete picture of Moth, her untamed personality, and what made her tick, including some interesting interviews with former boyfriends who really give an indication of just how damn cool she was (like her penchant for partying, dropping acid, pipe smoking, roller skating, and fortunetelling).
When Moth first started working as a television journalist, she didn’t look the part. With her punk rocker style, she shattered traditional notions of what a reporter should be. Armed with a fearless streak and a sense of angry defiance in her personality, Moth was so good at her job because of her willingness to take gusty changes with her life. She not only sought out danger, she confronted it head-on. It was treacherous (and more than a little destructive), but also a huge part of what made her great.
Lawless’ storytelling is excellent, and she even takes the documentary to another level by including thoughtful comments on the horrors of war. The film asks the tough questions and also answers them, making “Never Look Away” a fitting history of a little known yet powerful female figure in the broadcast journalism industry.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 