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 & 30 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

The greatest mystery in the disappearance of Nicholas Barclay began the day he came home.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Avalon [Spain] Official Facebook

Country:

UK

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

24 August 2012 (UK)

Also Known As:

Az Imposztor

Filming Locations:

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,379, 15 July 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$892,409, 23 November 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

24 Seven Productions, A&E IndieFilms, Film4

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

High mountains visible in background in at least five scenes including sister's airport departure, Nicholas boarding school bus, kids hanging out in vacant lot. Supposedly set in San Antonio which is in the Texas 'Hill Country' but we see real mountains in the background. End credits reveal recreated scenes were shot in Arizona including Phoenix, Buckeye and Avondale where there are numerous mountain ranges often visible in any direction you look at varying distances.

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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

Version of The Chameleon (2010)

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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

A truly bizarre story

A 13 year old boy disappears from a small town in Texas, three years later Police in Spain alert authorities in the US, against all odds it appears that child has been found....or has he?

I watched this 'movie' not knowing very little about it, and after 10 minutes or so I was puzzled, is this a mocu-mentary or based on a true story? surely it couldn't be as the story was so bizarre!!

Filmed in the same style as the TV show 'Banged Up Abroad', part interview clips with the real people, part reconstructed key moments with actors, this is a quite astonishing story and well worth a viewing.