Review of Paper Heart (2009) by Andy S — 05 Jan 2010

On the surface this is a sweet little documentary about the nature of love. The problem arises when you learn that it is only about 50% true. The film looks, acts and smells like a documentary. Its shot that way, its cut that way, it's structured that way.

. HOWEVER.. the actual relationship between Michael Cera and Charlyne Yi is fiction. I think the film is important for that as the lines blur more and more as to what is documentary and what is fiction it's harder to know what is truth and what is fiction.

Sure it's harmless here, but when Michael Moore does it, but then just calls it "entertainment" there is a huge problem. I think this kind of film sets a dangerous precedent in that others might be OK shooting documentary style and just create whats "real", altering reality for those viewers who are not in the know.

Sure we have had fake BS Mockumentaries before and such things as Blair Witch which claim (at least from a marketing stand point) to be real. This, however, with it's innocent approach to seeking answers about love seems a con and a twisted lie once it's all revealed in the end when we see that the Director (who is a main character) is actually played by an actor.

Charlyne Yi appears to be a sweet and interesting person, but who knows.. maybe thats all "entertainemnt" as well.