Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
2025·Documentary·39m
6.9
★
On March 13, 2022, filmmaker Brent Renaud was killed by Russian soldiers, the first American journalist to die while reporting on the war in Ukraine. His younger brother and collaborator, Craig Renaud, recovered Brent’s body and his final recordings from Ukraine and brought them back to their childhood home in Arkansas. As Brent’s journey to his final resting place unfolds, the film chronicles the years he and his brother spent covering some of the world’s most dangerous conflicts.
Directed by Brent Renaud and Craig Renaud
war photographer
war journalism
russo-ukrainian war
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Brent Renaud
Self
Jon Alpert
Self
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Self (archival footage)
Anderson Cooper
Self (archival footage)
Crew
Brent Renaud
Director
Brent Renaud
Editor
Jon Alpert
Editor
Brent Renaud
Director of Photography
Jon Alpert
Director of Photography
Nancy Abraham
Executive Producer
Lisa Heller
Executive Producer
Jon Alpert
Executive Producer
Brent Renaud
Producer
Christof Putzel
Producer
Andy Sarjahani
Co-Producer
Christof Putzel
Cinematography
Popular Reviews
179 reviews
Jacob LucibelloPRO
7.0★ · 02/27/26
I wonder if Alex Garland consulted with Brent when making Civil War. Or maybe if his death inspired him to make that movie.
Either way RIP
Either way RIP
I wonder if Alex Garland consulted with Brent when making Civil War. Or maybe if his death inspired him to make that movie.
Either way RIP
Either way RIP
unraveledclouds
10.0★ · 05/04/26
2026 Oscar Nominee | Best Documentary Short Film
Civilians are not a target, Hospital and medics are not a target, and Journalist are not a target. It's a war crime to let all of those people died, and most of y'all are still silent with this.> "You are very honest and very faithful and very... The way you hold that camera, the way you hold that camera, it is not just you are holding it. You're doing it from your heart." Shocking, terrifying, and heartbreaking documentary, but also a heartwarming journey till the end of Brent's life. I don't have any better words for those heroes who are recording the truth to us.
This documentary tells the journey and the impact of Brent's journalism. From terrorism attack, war, and plenty of others. This shows how a documentary can impact small, forgettable places, to be seen.
I agree with the other, this documentary is having a mixed feelings. But since then, it was just Brent showing reality we lived, and you guys aren't ready for that.
This documentary itself impacted me at noticing journalism. It does change my perspective. We often forgot the heroes behind the scenes, and this shows how we couldn't ignore those heroes.
8 per month, 100 a year, 2000+ in total since the 1990s. It is a number we shouldn't ignore.
After Brent's death itself, over 100 more Journalists have died.
Rest in Peace to Brent Renaud, and every journalist that has been killed by a war crime.
Civilians are not a target, Hospital and medics are not a target, and Journalist are not a target. It's a war crime to let all of those people died, and most of y'all are still silent with this.> "You are very honest and very faithful and very... The way you hold that camera, the way you hold that camera, it is not just you are holding it. You're doing it from your heart." Shocking, terrifying, and heartbreaking documentary, but also a heartwarming journey till the end of Brent's life. I don't have any better words for those heroes who are recording the truth to us.
This documentary tells the journey and the impact of Brent's journalism. From terrorism attack, war, and plenty of others. This shows how a documentary can impact small, forgettable places, to be seen.
I agree with the other, this documentary is having a mixed feelings. But since then, it was just Brent showing reality we lived, and you guys aren't ready for that.
This documentary itself impacted me at noticing journalism. It does change my perspective. We often forgot the heroes behind the scenes, and this shows how we couldn't ignore those heroes.
8 per month, 100 a year, 2000+ in total since the 1990s. It is a number we shouldn't ignore.
After Brent's death itself, over 100 more Journalists have died.
Rest in Peace to Brent Renaud, and every journalist that has been killed by a war crime.
2026 Oscar Nominee | Best Documentary Short Film
Civilians are not a target, Hospital and medics are not a target, and Journalist are not a target. It's a war crime to let all of those people died, and most of y'all are still silent with this.> "You are very honest and very faithful and very... The way you hold that camera, the way you hold that camera, it is not just you are holding it. You're doing it from your heart." Shocking, terrifying, and heartbreaking documentary, but also a heartwarming journey till the end of Brent's life. I don't have any better words for those heroes who are recording the truth to us.
This documentary tells the journey and the impact of Brent's journalism. From terrorism attack, war, and plenty of others. This shows how a documentary can impact small, forgettable places, to be seen.
I agree with the other, this documentary is having a mixed feelings. But since then, it was just Brent showing reality we lived, and you guys aren't ready for that.
This documentary itself impacted me at noticing journalism. It does change my perspective. We often forgot the heroes behind the scenes, and this shows how we couldn't ignore those heroes.
8 per month, 100 a year, 2000+ in total since the 1990s. It is a number we shouldn't ignore.
After Brent's death itself, over 100 more Journalists have died.
Rest in Peace to Brent Renaud, and every journalist that has been killed by a war crime.
Civilians are not a target, Hospital and medics are not a target, and Journalist are not a target. It's a war crime to let all of those people died, and most of y'all are still silent with this.> "You are very honest and very faithful and very... The way you hold that camera, the way you hold that camera, it is not just you are holding it. You're doing it from your heart." Shocking, terrifying, and heartbreaking documentary, but also a heartwarming journey till the end of Brent's life. I don't have any better words for those heroes who are recording the truth to us.
This documentary tells the journey and the impact of Brent's journalism. From terrorism attack, war, and plenty of others. This shows how a documentary can impact small, forgettable places, to be seen.
I agree with the other, this documentary is having a mixed feelings. But since then, it was just Brent showing reality we lived, and you guys aren't ready for that.
This documentary itself impacted me at noticing journalism. It does change my perspective. We often forgot the heroes behind the scenes, and this shows how we couldn't ignore those heroes.
8 per month, 100 a year, 2000+ in total since the 1990s. It is a number we shouldn't ignore.
After Brent's death itself, over 100 more Journalists have died.
Rest in Peace to Brent Renaud, and every journalist that has been killed by a war crime.
valenvstheworld
dolorosísimo, no hay duda. pero creo que es errado el enfoque que hace, con un popurrí de todos los conflictos globales donde brent renaud filmó. el trabajo de brent es sumamente importante pero creo que craig es un poco irresponsable, o sensacionalista en el afán de enaltecer a su hermano como héroe americano. igualmente es importante y voy a ir para atrás en la carrera de brent renaud, a quien mataron haciendo el acto más importante de todos: contar la verdad.
dolorosísimo, no hay duda. pero creo que es errado el enfoque que hace, con un popurrí de todos los conflictos globales donde brent renaud filmó. el trabajo de brent es sumamente importante pero creo que craig es un poco irresponsable, o sensacionalista en el afán de enaltecer a su hermano como héroe americano. igualmente es importante y voy a ir para atrás en la carrera de brent renaud, a quien mataron haciendo el acto más importante de todos: contar la verdad.
Yotam
A brutal watch. The scene of Craig meeting Brent’s surviving colleague was heart wrenching.
A brutal watch. The scene of Craig meeting Brent’s surviving colleague was heart wrenching.
lucy
5.0★ · 03/15/26
this is a beautiful piece for his memory but it felt like a glorified highlight reel, we don’t take any time to feel for the victims it makes a spectacle of their deaths
this is a beautiful piece for his memory but it felt like a glorified highlight reel, we don’t take any time to feel for the victims it makes a spectacle of their deaths