The Imposter

The Imposter 

2012

Documentary

Rated: R

Running Time: 99 minutes

Directed By: Bart Layton

Rating: 7 out of 10

Outline

A family's missing child is returned to them after three years, but he looks completely different then what they remember.

Review

If I had to describe this documentary in one word, that word would be bewildering. The Imposter is the story of a young Frenchman who cons his way into the lives of a grieving family from Texas. He claims to be the family’s 16 year old son, (Nicholas Barclay) who has been missing for 3 years. The story is so ridiculous and so shocking that it must be watched to fully appreciate its craziness. Imagine if you will, losing your child who looks like a young Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys. Then three years later you are given someone back who looks like a young Tony Shalhoub (Hells yeah, I just made an Antonio from Wings reference!) The story should end there, right? This is not your kid so why don’t you say something, right? Wrong, and that is why this movie is so intriguing. Not only does the entire Barclay family take the Frenchman in, they inexplicably insist that this is their missing boy. This amazing true story travels from Spain to small town America in the pursuit of the shocking truth. Director Bart Layton has brought together the voices of the Barclay family, the FBI, and the French con man Frederic Bourdin in perfect cohesion. It allows the viewer to see how things went so terribly wrong, and also gives a chance for the viewer to form their own opinion on what transpired. How does a missing American with no passport end up in Spain? How does a grieving family not recognize a complete stranger? And how does a con man fool so many government agencies? Please watch and find out. If that isn’t enough to lure you, then there are tales of murder, espionage, torture, expertise cons, and the search for the truth of what really happened to the missing 13 year old, Nicholas Harper. This film will shock you and leave you shaking your head in amazement.

I give this movie a recommendation, especially to people who like True Crime stories.