Wow. As The Imposter begins, it takes a bit of time watching to understand the depth of the ruse carried off by Frédéric Bourdin (called by some a “serial imposter”). I rented this movie months ago, it sitting in its Netflix envelope on my table for the longest time. And I had forgotten it was a documentary. Even on watching, its tale is so outrageous, so incredulous, that it is hard to accept that it is a documentary. But it is. The tale is true. As unbelievable as it is, it is true.
The secret to a documentary holding my interest is more than the subject, though. It is also in the telling. And Bart Layton nailed the telling of this story.
As the film plays out, as the layers of deception are revealed, as the accusations are made, the viewer feels disbelief then dismay then disillusion at humanity. How can this not be a work of fiction? How can people be like this? How can a family . . . ?
See The Imposter. Ask your own questions. But I cannot think you’ll have answers to them. Instead, merely a reassurance persists that there is bad in the world.