When a former photo editor in Saigon reveals a secret that has plagued him for 52 years, it sets in motion a gripping two-year investigation into the truth behind “The Terror of War” (informally dubbed “Napalm Girl”)—one of the most iconic images captured during the Vietnam War, whose creation is now up for debate. American Vietnamese director Bao Nguyen (The Greatest Night in Pop, Be Water) takes audiences on a thrilling hunt for the truth, involving forensic experts, a small team of journalists, and acclaimed war photographer Gary Knight in a relentless search to locate the Associated Press freelancer at the center of a headline-grabbing mystery. Grappling with questions of authorship, racial injustice, and journalistic ethics, THE STRINGER shines a light on the vital yet often unrecognized contributions of freelance photojournalists in shaping the media landscape and how history is visualized.

In English and Vietnamese with English subtitles.