The other Facebook film, I did not know what to expect with ‘Catfish’ but I was drawn in from the start. The techniques employed throughout the film, the use of Google Earth and Facebook profiles to introduce characters and their links, are modern and unusual, yet so simple. The film directly uses the medium that it is commenting on as a narrative device. ‘Catfish’ begins by focusing on Nev, a twenty something New York photographer, and his online relationship with Abby, a very young successful painter who replicates Nev’s photographs and often sends them to him. Their relationship begins via Facebook and slowly Nev becomes involved with the rest of Abby’s family. The story suddenly becomes very complicated and the crew go to investigate what is real and what is fiction, and that is the key theme to this film, the notion of reality, what is real about it? How has it been edited? Is it verite? On being questioned about how real this documentary is the filmmakers stated it was all genuine and never manipulated, they were just very lucky. Many believe ‘Catfish’ is a very clever Mockumentary, I am yet to decide my thoughts. At first it really felt acted and unreal but as the story unfolds it feels very true and real. That issue aside I feel the film really captures a zeitgeist of the era and is a fascinating film that draws you in and leaves you feeling baffled and understanding at the same time. ‘Catfish’ is a thought provoking film that depicts the essence of Facebook and the internet culture of today.
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