Capturing Kennedy shares the extraordinary untold story of Jacques Lowe, a Holocaust survivor and young immigrant who, at just 28, became the personal photographer to John F. Kennedy. Drawing on newly uncovered historic interviews and unprecedented access to Lowe's personal estate and archives, this documentary chronicles his remarkable journey from surviving the horrors of World War II to capturing some of the most iconic photographs of the Kennedy era. Through Lowe's unique lens, Capturing Kennedy sheds light on one of the last untold chapters of the Kennedy Presidency and the young photographer whose images shaped it.—Steele Burrow
Capturing Kennedy tells the remarkable and emotional story of Jacques Lowe, a Holocaust survivor and immigrant who, at just 28, became John F. Kennedy's personal photographer. This deeply personal documentary, based on over 10 hours of recently uncovered interviews with Lowe shot shortly before his passing, traces his incredible journey-from escaping the horrors of World War II to immortalizing some of the most iconic moments of the Kennedy Presidency through his camera lens.
The film offers unprecedented access to Lowe's personal estate and archives, as well as newly uncovered historic interviews, allowing viewers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of iconic photographs that helped shape the public's perception of JFK and his family. Lowe's intimate bond with Kennedy provided him unparalleled access to moments both public and private, and Capturing Kennedy reveals the untold story of the man who captured the spirit of Camelot.
Through interviews with close friends and family of Jacques Lowe, along with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Fredrik Logevall, author of JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, the documentary places Lowe's work in a broader historical context, examining the impact of his photographs on how the world viewed one of America's most legendary presidencies.
The film includes the tragic loss of Lowe's photographic negatives, which were housed in the World Trade Center and destroyed during the 9/11 attacks. Yet, out of this devastating loss, the film uncovers the story of an unlikely friendship that preserved a significant portion of Lowe's legacy through his surviving prints.
Through the recently uncovered interviews, viewers hear directly from Lowe as he reflects on his experiences, offering a poignant and personal look at a photographer who not only documented history but became a part of it. Capturing Kennedy illuminates the lasting influence of Jacques Lowe's work and his enduring contribution to the legacy of President John F. Kennedy.
