This is a heart-breaking documentary full of unrequited love and twisted lies; dramatic enough to be a good watch, painful enough to be real life. It belongs in the back of a limo during a bachelor party told by your drunken friend. To catch what happened to these three friends as it unfolded so perfectly on film is an aspiring film-makers dream. It's also got to be about as rare as catching a car crash, a UFO, and a half-court shot all in one day.
Henry Joost and the Schulman brothers, Yaniv (aka Niv) and Ariel, got a whiff of a story and had both the foresight and determination to follow it down the rabbit whole to see where it led. When they came out, it was with something unexpected. Man, it's great to see a movie organically develop like this in our overly planned out world. The guys went head-long into what could of very possibly been Hannibal Lecter's house, armed only with cameras, in what I can only describe as gonzo film-making, and survived to tell the story. Their moms must have hated the movie.
Originally, they were making a documentary about the pen-pal relationship between a NYC dance photographer (Niv) and an 8 year-old wonder child named Abby Pierce from Ishpeming Michigan. The friendship started when Abby did a derivative work of one of Niv's photos she found in The New York Sun, and sent it to him. Flattered and impressed by her artistry, he sends her more of his photos to mimic. Soon enough, they form a cute big brother, little sister friendship online, which over the course of several months expands to include Abby's family, and even a handful of Michiganders who also want to befriend the trendy New York photographer.
One of these new Facebook friends is Abby's beautiful half-sister, Megan Faccio. Her and Niv form a romantic relationship, beginning with Facebook banter and eventually leading to ardent phone calls and steamy text messages. She also happens to be an artist: a painter, a cellist, a singer, a belly dancer, and even a ballerina. Who could resist? She charms Niv by sending him love songs, and he responds with photo-shopped pictures of them together and weepy messages cursing the distance that separates them. After eight months and several failed attempts to see her, Niv decides finally to just drive up to her house and crash Sunday breakfast. With him to film the adventure go his brother, Ariel, and friend, Henry. When they get to good 'ol Ishpeming things are so unsettling it will leave you feeling sorry for everyone involved and thinking what utter fools we are for love. I really hope Niv made money on this documentary, because he certainly deserved something. And in my opinion, it wasn't Facebook's fault!
Stars: 3/5
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