F for Fake
Trickery. Deceit. Magic. In Orson Welles's free-form documentary F FOR FAKE, the legendary filmmaker (and self-described charlatan) gleefully engages the central preoccupation of his career -- the tenuous line between truth and illusion, art and lies. Beginning with portraits of world-renowned art forger Elmyr de Hory and his equally devious biographer, Clifford Irving, Welles embarks on a dizzying cinematic journey that simultaneously exposes and revels in fakery and fakers of all stripes -- not the least of whom is Welles himself. Charming and inventive, F FOR FAKE is an inspired prank and a searching examination of the essential duplicity of cinema.
Running Time
89 mins
Year
1973
Kanopy ID
1113001
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Comments (2)
A wacky and informative sorta-documentary that has me really wanting to learn more about this story. I had no idea Welles could be so jovial, but he makes a perfect host. Loved the wild editing style and the zany characters on display.
Far too many folks treat Orson Welles’ works as museum pieces rather than inventive films worthy of enjoyment. Of course, he isn’t the only exceptional filmmaker to suffer such a fate. For anyone that finds his Shakespeare adaptations a chore (and they shouldn't), I highly recommend this ...Read more
Far too many folks treat Orson Welles’ works as museum pieces rather than inventive films worthy of enjoyment. Of course, he isn’t the only exceptional filmmaker to suffer such a fate. For anyone that finds his Shakespeare adaptations a chore (and they shouldn't), I highly recommend this remarkable quasi-documentary, the last theatrical feature completed in his lifetime (and before the cinephiles comment to correct me, FILMING OTHELLO was made for television).
Read less