> Catfish
4 stars (out of 5)
Director: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman.
Cast: Melody C. Roscher, Ariel Schulman, Yaniv Schulman, Angela Wesselman-Pierce.
Rating: (M)
Catfish is an unlikely but brilliantly executed commentary on social networking and internet relationships, venturing far beyond The Social Network into the murkier territory of end-user abuse.
The most important thing to know about Catfish is nothing. To watch it fresh without any preconceived ideas or background knowledge is essential.
The film is a quirky observational documentary based on the online romance of Nev Schulman, a 20-something New York photographer sharing a workspace with brother Ariel and film-making partner Henry Joost.
Nev's growing interest in an artistic family from Michigan tweaks the interest of Henry and Ariel, who shadow his every move with their handycams. Using Facebook to learn more about Abby, an 8-year-old child prodigy who paints amazing representations of Nev's photography, Nev takes more than a casual interest in her attractive older sister Megan.
Catfish is a triumph of editing and a massive fail for camera-work.
The cynical will question its authenticity. When film-makers intentionally mess with the quality of the images, you have to wonder if it's a clever stylistic ploy, though once the true nature of Nev's curiosity plays out, who cares?
A clever piece of sleight of hand or an unbelievable gift from the documentary gods, Catfish is thought-provoking, moving, hilarious and quite scary.
Best thing: Never being completely sure where you are being led.
Worst thing: The ploy of placing the second camera in shot - we get the idea.
See it with: A brand-new Facebook friend.
- Mark Orton
