The Imposter (2012)

A documentary centered on a young man in Spain who claims to a grieving Texas family that he is their 16-year-old son who has been missing for 3 years.

Director:

Bart Layton

Stars:

Adam O'Brian, Nicholas Barclay, Carey Gibson

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 11 wins & 32 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicholas Barclay	...	Self - Missing Person (archive footage)
Carey Gibson	...	Self - Nicholas' Sister
Bryan Gibson	...	Self - Nicholas' Brother-in-Law
Beverly Dollarhide	...	Self - Nicholas' Mother
Frédéric Bourdin	...	Self - Imposter (as Frederic Bourdin)
Nancy Fisher	...	Self - Special Agent, FBI (as Nancy B. Fisher)
Philip French	...	Self - Consul General, U. S. Embassy in Spain (as Phillip French)
Codey Gibson	...	Self - Nicholas' Nephew
Charlie Parker	...	Self - Private Investigator
Bruce Perry	...	Self - Texas Children's Hospital (as Bruce D. Perry)
Allie Hostetler	...	Self - Nicholas' Neighbor (as Allie Hosteiler)
Kevin Hendricks	...	Self - Nicholas' Childhood Friend
Adam O'Brian	...	Frédéric Bourdin
Anna Ruben	...	Carey Gibson
Cathy Dresbach	...	Nancy Fisher

Storyline

In 1994, a thirteen year old boy disappeared from San Antonio, Texas. Three and a half years later, he is found alive and well thousands of miles away in Europe. He tells a story of kidnap and torture when he returns. While his family is excited to bring him home, all is not as it seem.

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Plot Keywords:

texas | frenchman | identity theft | torture victim | mythomania | 

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Taglines:

Deception comes home.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Goofs

At the beginning of the film, Frédéric Bourdin's hair line is very defined and has dark hair. But by the end of the film he has a noticeable receding hairline. However, the film portrays his talking scenes as one long interview as his shirt never changes.

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Quotes

Frédéric Bourdin - Imposter: Before I was born, I definitely had the wrong identity. I already didn't know - I was already prepared not to know who I really was. A new identity with a real passport, an American passport... I could go to the U.S., go to school there, live with that family, and just being someone and don't have never again to worry about being identified. I saw the opportunity.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 20 Best Documentary Films of the Last Decade (2019)

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Soundtracks

He Had a Long Chain On
Written by Jimmie Driftwood (as Jimmy Driftwood)
Performed by Jimmie Driftwood (as Jimmy Driftwood)

User Reviews

Compelling

I saw this film at the 2012 Edinburgh Film Festival. The film focuses on the story of Nicholas Barclay who disappeared from his Texas home in 1994. Three years later he's found in France and then re-united with his parents. But it's obvious he cannot be there son. He's an impostor; a 23 year old con-artist. The film explores the unravelling of this story through interviews and very well realised reconstructions of the events. Documentary recreations don't always work and can detract from the interviews but here they work very well.It makes for a strange and compelling film. A deliberation on the nature of truth and lies that had me completely gripped.

Details

Official Sites:

Avalon [Spain] Official Facebook

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

24 August 2012 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Imposter

Filming Locations:

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,379, 15 July 2012

Gross USA:

$898,317

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,001,877

Company Credits

Production Co:

24 Seven Productions, A&E IndieFilms, Channel 4

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1