Stranger with a Camera is a 2000 documentary film by director Elizabeth Barret, investigating the circumstances surrounding the 1967 death of filmmaker Hugh O'Connor.
Barret was born and raised in the region, and the film explores questions about public image and the individual's lack of power to define oneself within the American media landscape.
By contrasting multiple perspectives from locals and O'Connor's film crew, Barret weaves a tale of a complexly motivated crime with an exploration of how the media affect the communities they chronicle.
In 1967, O'Connor and his crew were working on a film called US that sought to depict the variety of people and daily lifestyles across the United States.
Although Barret admits to having found no resolution to her questions about what happened that day in 1967, she understands that as a filmmaker she has a responsibility to see her community for what it is and to tell the story no matter how difficult.
"[2] Scottish Canadian documentary filmmaker O'Connor had been hired to direct a film about the "American Dream" titled US.
In addition to highlighting many of the prospering areas in America, O'Connor chose to document Letcher County in eastern Kentucky.
While many of the county's residents were hopeful that attention would bring change, others were angered and felt exploited by the media's portrayal of their community.
On the final day of his shoot for US, Hugh O'Connor was filming mining families living in shacks rented by Ison.