THE IMPOSTER (2012)

CRIME | THRILLER | DOCUMENTARY

You’re the average run of the mill French con man with nothing much going on, so what do you do? You impersonate a young American boy who went missing years before, of course, even though you look nothing like him, have a different accent, and are seven years older than him. Surely that won’t fool the authorities. Surely! And even if you did somehow pull the wool over their eyes, there’s no way the family would buy it. Surely…

I went to see The Imposter in the cinema twice in one week when it first came out. I had never seen a documentary quite like it before, one that felt so much like a thriller. Since then, director Bart Layton has also made the excellent American Animals (2018), a similarly styled piece that blurred the line between fiction and non-fiction, and I’m eagerly anticipating the release next year of his first fiction effort, Crime 101 (the trailer for which literally dropped this morning, showing exactly how cutting edge these reviews are!). With that on the horizon (and the fact that Olivia had never seen it), it was with excitement and a certain trepidation that I revisited The Imposter 13 years on. So, was it everything it had appeared to be…?

---

THE NICHOLAS BARCLAY

+ As gripping as any scripted thriller you’ll see, this is compelling stuff. The increasingly unbelievable chain of events that unfolds as Frédéric Bourdin coaxes his way into the lives of the Barclay family will sweep you breathlessly along in their wake.

+ The candid testimony of the real people involved grounds the bizarre facts of story even as things take increasingly outlandish turns. The filmmakers get unfiltered access to everyone involved, with the family bringing emotional depth while the authorities intensify the jeopardy.

+ Layton and his team brilliantly realise the story using a combination of archive footage, gorgeous cinematic reconstructions (courtesy of cinematographers Erik Alexander Wilson and Lynda Hall), and sincere first-hand testimony.

+ The subtle use of different camera techniques to distinguish Bourdin’s interview from everyone else’s creates a uniquely immersive experience. This gives the audience a singular insight into both the mind of a con artist as well as how it might actually feel to be one of their victims.

---

THE FRÉDÉRIC BOURDIN

- Things gets a little loose towards the end as certain accusations are levelled at some of the family members. While these are undoubtedly interesting, they feel at times unfocused and somewhat speculative.

- Frédéric Bourdin is a creepy guy, and while the story plays with our sympathies towards him, he doesn’t always make for the easiest of company.

---

Wondering where to watch it? Check JustWatch for availability.

---

How do my ratings hold up? Is it more of a movie or is it a film? Let me know in the comments below! If you like what I’m trying to do here, please like, subscribe, restack, and share.