Review of F for Fake (1973) by Ricardo O — 18 Sep 2010

"F For Fake" aka "?: About Fakes" is a mind bending, and extremely entertaining "documentary" by film master Orson Welles about the art of fakery. It's subjects include the 20th century's master of forgery, Elmyr de Hory who some believe forged well over a thousand masterpieces, including so many that are hanging in some of the world's most famous museums; Clifford Irving, who is out to prove that Elmyr is a faker and also wrote a fake biography of Howard Hughes; Oja Kodar, a beautiful woman who claims that Pablo Picasso painted 22 canvases of her that no had ever seen before, declared as a new era of the master painter and all called masterpieces; and Welles himself who reflects on his past such as the infamous radio broadcast of H.G. Wells' "The War Of the Worlds" that caused a huge havoc around the country.

It brings up many questions about what makes a real piece of work and a fake piece of work different yet the same. Many experts continue to believe some of the real works are fake and yet they also believe that some of the fakes are in fact real. Does it truly matter?

Welles himself promises at the beginning of the film that what is shown is complete truth, that is, up to a certain point. Welles himself shows off what kind of master of fakery he can be and it is only at the end that you realize this. Everyone involved with the project is fantastic, but the editing of the film is the real star. Going from stock footage to footage of Welles reading a poem or a monkey moving about or a party Elmyr is throwing.

F For Fake is one of the most innovative, experimental documentaries that I have ever witnessed and it is one of the most entertaining films you will ever get to watch. It is just as innovative as his other masterpieces - Citizen Kane, The Magnificent Ambersons and Touch Of Evil. This is a film that is not to be missed. The final half hour or so is especially thrilling. A must see film for everyone that is into any kind of art-form especially that of film, painting and the ways of fakery. 10/10.