Voyeur (2017)

“They couldn’t hear me. They couldn’t see me. But I could hear them and see them. It’s been a secret all these years. It’s been a secret for 47 years. Nobody ever will be able to do what I did.” – Gerald Foos

Number of Times Seen – 1 (19 Apr 2022)

Brief Synopsis – Documentary about a motel owner who spied on his customers and the reporter who wrote a book about the story.

My Take on it – This is a documentary that I really enjoyed because it starts with one premise and then is able to metamorphosize as things progress.

The film focuses on two people who are telling the same story but neither knows that the other is seeing things slightly different.

Love the way that the film is able to show how truths, lies and even half-truths can affect the way that people view one another especially when looking at things form the perspective of finances, livelihood and legacy.

The film also brings up a very interesting look at how having people in similar circumstances that are slightly changed might also change their answers and opinions on things based solely on the location and audience.

This says so much about how being in front of a camera alone or with someone who differs from you might actually affect the kind of answer one might give in a given situation.

The story itself is quite fascinating and scary to think about, but ultimately, the places where it takes us both physically and philosophically helps enhance this documentary even more as things move along.

Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – In April 2016, Steven Spielberg purchased the rights to create a film based on Foos’s life, with director Sam Mendes tapped to direct. The film was canceled in November 2016 after Spielberg and Mendes learned of this documentary feature about the same subject, then in production. In regard to the decision to cancel the film, Mendes expressed frustration that no one had advised them of the documentary’s existence, but said: “it has so many things that are wonderful and can only be achieved by a documentary…the story became infinitely more interesting and more complicated, but impossible to tell in a narrative movie.” (From IMDB)

Rating – Globe Worthy (8/10)