You log onto Facebook, and see some recent friend requests. But do you REALLY know who’s on the other end of it? Is that picture a representative of truth or lie? Catfish is startling commentary regarding this, and an interesting look at the world around us. How one click can lead to an intricate world or intimacy and/or deception? You leave with a bad taste in your mouth, knowing that most of us are part of the same network as these people. This is a modern day lens on America, and how users can get caught in the web more than they would like to. In reality, this film may seem like nothing more than a mere documentary, when it’s message far outweighs any interest one had in social networking.
Catfish is a documentary made by the Schulman Brothers, that chronicles the emotions and fallacies confronted by a young man named Yaniv. An avid Facebook user, he is sent paintings by a young art prodigy by the name of Abby, which spirals into a intimate relationship with her entire family. What first seems like a whimsical connection turns into romantic turbulence. Yaniv strikes up a relationship with “Megan”, the half sister of Abby, an attractive young woman who harbors a strong passion for Yaniv. The rest of the details are left to the viewer, but the film takes a dramatic turn when things begin to unravel. However, at the center of the film is the connection made between America’s heartland and urban Bohemia with the connections made through Facebook, and how issues predominant in what seem like modern America cross cultural lines as well. It’s a film open to interpretation.
Yaniv Schulman is an observant, curious young man with a naïve, unconditional heart. What some view as treacherous, he welcomes with open arms. An exclusive relationship with a woman he has not personally met, communicating with a family thousands of miles away…it seems a little unconventional. However, he’s up for the investment. Angela, the mother of Abby and Megan, is a seemingly meek mother with her family on her mind. Of course, once the credits roll, it’s a much different scenario. “Megan”, the attractive half-sister that Yaniv begins a relationship with, is the vocal point of much of the film’s drama. These three characters amount to weeks of uncertainty and cataclysm.
Yaniv’s experience with the music is the most compelling. This is when the threads of a perfectly quilted relationship begin to unravel. When the evidence begins to pile up toward a dark hypothesis, Yaniv’s sense of self doubt and worry is immense. Equally as effective would be his colleagues’ disposition toward his behavior. The sense of fervor that the deception brews is quite the seasoning for film making. Tension begins to develop between every variable of the film, and it gradually comes to a boil.
One thing is for sure: Catfish is one of the most interesting films of our time. While the twists and turns are exciting, the outcome isn’t always satisfying. An aspect of the film that’s tragically missing would be that of a swift pull of the curtain. The “twist” that is heavily advertised isn’t that. It’s a gradual transformation of character that hits you long after the credits roll. I believe that the film makers did not give this film as much credit, or the right marketing. Advertised as a horrific tale that you never expect is not in the least what this movie is. More of a peculiar experience outlined by underlying instability.
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