movie world

This incredible film directed by the great Orson Welles tells not one but three different stories. They mix facts and fiction with such authority that one never feels the need to question its observations.

F for Fake is an autobiographical "essay film" masquerading as a documentary. On the surface, it's a study of notorious art forger Elmyr de Hory and biographer Clifford Irving (shot by cinematographer Francois Reichenbach), and was originally planned as such...but the discovery of Irving's fabricated Howard Hughes biography turned it into a layered examination of fraud and forgery.

With these three stories, Welles' constructs layers of lies while revealing a great many truths. A self-confessed bender of the truth, he's a faker, telling the story of a faker, who told the story of a faker. There are rules about double negatives, but how about triple? Does that negate everything? Not at all, as by delving into the falsehoods, the basest of human realities are put under Welles' microscope and revealed in the truest of lights.

Director: Orson Welles
Cast: Orson Welles, Oja Kodar, Francois Reichenbach
Country: France, Iran, West Germany
Genre: Documentary

2 x DVD9 | NTSC 16:9 | 01:28:33 | 6.37 Gb + 7.17 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

DISC ONE

• Peter Bogdanovich Introduction. It was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2005. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• Audio Commentary with Orson Welles' partner Oja Kodar and cinematographer Gary Graver. It was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2004 and 2005.

• Trailer - presented here is the original, and quite long, teaser trailer for F for Fake, which features footage Orson Wells shot after the film was completed. The teaser trailer was rejected by the film's American distributor. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

DISC TWO

• Orson Welles: One-Man Band - this documentary takes a closer look at the different myths and half-truths about the American director and his legacy. It features various archival clips and fragments filmed by Orson Welles during the years, as well as original content featuring his partner, Oja Kodar. The documentary was created by Oja Kodar and filmmakers Roland Zag and Vassili Silovic. In English and German, with optional English subtitles where necessary. (88 min).

• Almost True: The Noble Art of Forgery - this magnificent documentary focuses on the very unusual life and mythical work of art forger Elmyr de Hory, one of the key figures in Orson Welles' F for Fake. Included in it are interviews with Elmyr de Hory's partner Mark Forgy, writer Clifford Irving, actress Ursula Andress, various museum officials, etc. The documentary was made in 1997 by Yellow Cottage Productions for the Norwegian Film Institute, and is presented courtesy of Janson Media. In English, not subtitled. (52 min).

• 60 Minutes Interviews Clifford Irving - presented here is an episode of 60 Minutes in which writer Clifford Irving addresses his notorious fake autobiography of Howard Hughes. The episode was broadcast in 2000. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

• Howard Hughes Press Conference - presented here are audio clips from a press conference, conducted by telephone, in which Howard Hughes addresses the authenticity of Clifford Irving's "autobiography". Audio only. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

BD50 | 1080p AVC | 01:28:45 | 44.4 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

There's one new supplement included with this Blu-ray:

• Tomorrow - a fascinating TV episode of Tom Snyder's Tomorrow, which was originally broadcast on April 8th, 1975. In it Orson Welles discusses the difficult production history of F for Fake, his image as a renegade in Hollywood, his friendship with the great Harry Houdini, the success of Citizen Kane and the impact it had on his career, his love for radio and his famous 1938 spoof, etc. In English, not subtitled. (45 min).