Lanre Fehintola was no ordinary photojournalist. Born in 1958, he hailed from humble beginnings. His father was an accountant, and his mother operated an old people’s home in Bradford, England. Fehintola’s life took a tumultuous turn early on when, at the age of 11, he was sent to a children’s home. A year later, he found himself in a reform school in Durham, where he remained until the age of 15.
“They said I was unruly and anti-social, but why does a child run away, for heaven’s sake? There must be something going wrong in the family!” These words from Fehintola himself reflect his early struggles and the profound impact they had on his life.
After leaving the reform school, Fehintola experienced a troubled path, marked by two prison terms. It was during his second term that something inside him began to change. “I started thinking. I was always into making a statement with myself, and crime was a way of doing that, even if it was only reputation, ego. I realized there were other ways I could make a statement,” he admitted.
In the late 1980s, Fehintola embarked on a unique mission. He aimed to publish a book that would shed light on the most desperate aspects of Bradford in Northern England. He ventured into the underbelly of society, capturing the lives of prostitutes and criminals, many of whom were ensnared by heroin addiction.
What set Fehintola apart from conventional photojournalists was his unwavering determination to understand the lives of his subjects intimately. To achieve this, he felt the need to immerse himself in their culture. His approach was unconventional, to say the least. Fehintola decided to experiment with heroin, all in the name of research.
However, this bold move had unintended consequences. Fehintola became ensnared by the same addiction he was seeking to document. This act of immersion, while unconventional, demonstrated his unparalleled commitment to bearing witness to the lives of those society had forgotten.
Regan first documented his friend’s life in the 1998 film “Don’t Get High on Your Own Supply.”
Fehintola became hooked on heroin while working on a book about a group of drug addicts. Regan caught up with him again in the 2001 film “Cold Turkey,” as Fehintola attempted to break his addiction by locking himself in his flat without medication.
“My Friend Lanre” jumps two decades, to a moment when Fehintola has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Regan never set out to document someone dying, but this is what his film becomes. Drawing from over 25 years of footage, the filmmaker presents an intensely intimate portrayal of his friendship and collaboration with Fehintola. It is charming, funny, devastating and, by its close, a bravely personal, living testament to one person’s life and work.
Lanre’s final piece of work was a collaboration with his friend and fellow documentarian, Leo Regan. Their joint effort, “My Friend Lanre,” was a documentary film that delved deep into his life and work. The film followed him on his final journey, and it provides a window into the extraordinary but tumultuous life of a man who refused to shy away from the darkest corners of society.
“My Friend Lanre” is set to have its world premiere on June 17 at the Sheffield Documentary Film Festival in 2023. This documentary promises to be a poignant tribute to a man who was not only a talented photojournalist but also a symbol of resilience and dedication.
Lanre Fehintola’s story is one that exemplifies the lengths to which some individuals are willing to go to tell the stories of those who often remain unseen. He was more than a photojournalist; he was an adventurer who dared to tread where few would, all in the pursuit of truth and understanding.