UNDER THE WIRE

Lyse Doucet once said that "There is no alternative to being there on the ground, in the heat and dust...".

Marie Colvin believed this to the point of obsession. When she was in Baba Amr she was determined to get the story of the people suffering there. She was a journalist like no other. 

Under the Wire tells the story of her final trip into Baba Amr. It is based on the book by her colleague and close friend Paul Conroy. He was the only photographer she ever worked well with because, as Lindsey Hilsum once pointed out, "She just couldn't be arsed with them!".

It is a heartbreaking and dramatic account of what journalists go through to get the truth. Marie was determined to not let the lives and stories of the civilians' horror be ignored, because, as she said, "It's about people. They are not just numbers".

Like any good journalist, she was determined and driven. She wouldn't give up. Often a driver would say, "We can't do that!" Her reply was, "Yes, you can!". Paul's suggestion was that it was probably safer to just do what she asked.

Unfortnately and sadly, it was probably this determination that cost this beautiful and brave woman her life. After escaping from Baba Amr once, she was determined to go back in. Paul had said he thought something wasn't right, but he knew there was no way she would not go because of a hunch, even one of her own. So, back in they went.

While they were in the media centre there was an attack and after a while it was pretty obvious they were being targeted. As an ex-artillery soldier, specifically a forward observer, Paul recognised the 'bracket' technique the army were using. It was only a matter of time before they suffered a direct hit. When they did, Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlick were killed; Edith Bouvier and Paul were seriously injured. Paul was determined to get out and continue Marie's work of telling the story of Baba Amr.

There is disturbing footage in this movie of the medical centre and Marie's last report, the shelling of the media centre, the claustrophobic tunnel - the only way in and out of Baba Amr, which also got hit.

It was a miracle any of them escaped from the media centre, but they did and this is their story and the memories of the last time they ever saw Marie.

I was crying for nearly all of it. And one of the best bits was seeing Wa'el. He was the translator. At one point,  Paul said, "I went into the tunnel and after that I never saw him again". So, I'm glad he was still around.

Marie was an amazing woman and journalist and I recommend you see this film to find out for yourself how great she was. I am also looking forward to watching the movie A Private War, which is about Marie's life and not just this assignment.

I know I will never be as good a journalist as she was, but if I have taken even a small bit of inspiration from her then that's good.

RIP Marie, you've inspired all of us to keep fighting for the power of journalism and Freedom of Speech. 

The lovely Marie Colvin - the bravest person in the world.