During his seven years covering the war in Iraq Australian journalist Michael Ware began using his camcorder as a electronic notetaker for his job, first with Time, then with CNN.

Only years later did Ware realise the wealth of footage he had amassed, and how it did a better job of telling the true story of the war than words ever could. As an acclaimed writer it was a hard admission and one of the reasons he felt he had to make Only the Dead.

Brutally vivid with some startling battle sequences, the film shows the Iraq war from both sides. Though often embedded with American troops, Ware’s contacts with the insurgency also allowed him rare access to the enemy perspective.

This proved especially fortuitous. At one point, Ware had been captured during a car-jacking and was to be executed in the street, the event to be filmed with his camcorder. Only his insurgent ‘friends’ were able to save him from being beheaded.

Here, Ware discusses the making of the film and reflects on his experiences, including one incident where his impartiality rendered him both ‘invisible’ to the American soldiers he was with, and complicit in their dubious conduct towards a dying man.

It disturbs him to this day.

Now with a growing family, Ware does not believe he could ever take such risks again, adding ‘I’ve given at the office’.

Watch the interview with Michael Ware below

Watch the trailer for Only The Dead

For more on Michael Ware, check out his website.