F for Fake

F for Fake can hardly be called a documentary, more so a vessel through which Welles dissects what separates and even constitutes the art and the artist. In an acrobatic collage of interweaving narratives, he resolves that the collective interest in nuanced and unique art has shifted to whoever garners the most publicity or even controversy. Thus the occupation of forger has become more viable than producing original art. But the forger and the artist still remain side by side, and the film consequently proposes that there is no difference between the two, to create is to fake. It's an interesting concept to be sure, and it unravels with a bold editing style that starts out a bit rough but eventually progresses to be essential to the telling of the story. This commitment to Welles's vision makes F for Fake an entertaining and groundbreaking work of its time. 87/100