The Impostor

A very interesting documentary about a man who successfully convinced a Texas family that he was their long lost son.  Despite having different hair and eyes, and not even speaking English as a first language (let alone not being from the USA), Frédéric Bourdin managed to convince the entire Barclay family that he was in fact their son Nicholas - who went missing 3 years previously.

The film raises very Interesting questions of both Bourdin and the Barclays, and of what really happened to the real Nicholas.  If Bourdin was so obviously not their son, why on earth would the family accept him so readily?  At the same time though, given the mental anguish the family had suffered, the desire for relief and for the return of Nicholas was so strong that perhaps they were willing to accept anything.  Interestingly, rather than being repentant in retrospect, Boudin goes on the offensive and accuses the Barclay family of knowing more than they claim to about Nicholas' disappearance.  Maybe if the family know something untoward about Nicholas' disappearance, and they thought that any move on their part to doubt the validity of Bourdin's claim to be their son would be viewed as a guilty admission that they know he's not coming back!

The documentary superbly mixes up recreations, interviews with people involved and real footage to tell its story.  Bourdin is providing a voice-over to his actions almost from the very start of the film, and as such it makes unusual viewing.  After all, how often do you see a documentary about a historical crime in which the criminal provides you a voice-over insight into what he was doing at the time?  Similarly there are interviews with Nicholas Barclay's sister and mother, both of whom are invited to look back upon the time when they allowed themselves to be taken in by Bourdin's lies and comment on how they felt and feel about it.

One of the best bits about the story is that there is still no resolution at the present time.  Bourdin has served his time and moved on with his life while the Barclays still don't have Nicholas back.  The private investigators in San Antonio who can be bothered to are still looking for Nicholas, some are even prepared to entertain the idea that the Barclays were involved in foul play in his disappearance.  It's a real life modern Machiavellian tale involving real people, that's still going on, and is utterly gripping.