Catfish: A Whale of a Facebook Tale
This month there has been a lot of talk about a certain film that details the creation of Facebook. There is another ‘Facebook film’, one that intends to inspire discussion about Facebook's users. I don’t feel many people outside film and critics circles are aware of this film, so I thought I’d take the opportunity of having recently seen it on DVD to spread the awareness to you.
Catfish
, the documentary about a man’s online relationship with a family via Facebook, is difficult to talk about with anyone who hasn’t seen it. The film requires you to experience its events the first time along with the main character in order to enjoy it as fully as possible. If you go in fresh then
Catfish
will reward you with its roller-coaster experience. The only way that can happen is if you know next to nothing specific about the film.
This review will be purposely as vague as possible so as to avoid even hinting at anything that will rob you of the experience.
The basic story follows Ariel, a filmmaker-for-hire who seems to mostly shoot dance performances and the goings-on of those around him. He begins documenting the evolution of an online friendship his brother Nev (pronounced Neev) is forming. Nev is a professional photographer, also of dancers, who is contacted via Facebook by a little girl named Abby who seems to be a talented painter. Nev exchanges emails and art work with Abby; he sends her a photo he took, she paints that photo and sometimes sends it to Nev. After a couple months, Abby’s family and friends begin ‘friending’ Nev on Facebook, including Abby’s half-sister Megan, a gorgeous young woman who seems to be talented in all the arts Abby isn’t – she sings, plays guitar, and dances. Nev begins to get more intimate with Megan via phone conversations, text messages, and emails.
And then things get, well… fishy.
It would be a huge disservice to say any more about what happens. I managed to spare myself any details of this film before I saw it and I’m glad I did, because doing so made it possible for me to not know what to expect, only that things weren’t what they seemed. I was also able to connect more with Nev’s experience, as a result – the emotional highs, left turns, uncomfortable moments, and the crashing realities.
If Nev isn’t going to find what he expects as he begins to dig deeper into the situation he’s found himself in, what will he find?
The answer to that question is so crucial to what the film is about thematically and literally, it is best to be ignorant of it until it is revealed to Nev and his fellow filmmakers – and, in turn, revealed to you. Your jaw will drop to the floor as things are revealed to you clear to the very end.
Catfish
is the most shocking film of 2010 – but not for reasons you might expect.
Catfish
drew some attention after its debut a year ago at the Sundance Film Festival when many journalists and critics questioned the authenticity of the film’s events. Is it real? Did this really happen or was it part of some shrewd orchestration by a filmmaker looking to make a big impression in the film world? I believe without a doubt it is real. But it doesn’t really matter either way -
Catfish
is a compelling story that brings up several questions to ponder regarding the internet.
Is
Catfish
a great film? No. There are some questions the film fails to address. And the subject matter is one that I suspect will date the film in a decade or so. But it is a story so compellingly told that it can’t
not
be seen while it is still relevant. It takes a certain kind of person to go through an experience like Nev’s and for everyone involved to come out of it the way they do. That journey and the way these people respond to what they uncover is a fascinating watch. Furthermore,
Catfish
encourages a discussion that will be relevant long after Facebook signs out of our lives.
7/10
Should you see it?
Rent
Catfish
is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.