Realism (2017)

The power of documentary lies in its realism--the authenticity in telling the truth and encouraging reflections. What happens, however, when a documentary is in fact scripted by the director? Credibility is at stake as the female director films a young call girl with too many tales to tell. As a sex worker, the protagonist decries the hypocrisy of patriarchal society. Almost too perfect is her eloquent discourse on sexual politics-- the mainstream society’s oppression towards females and sex workers, and marriage being a ploy to enforce patriarchy. The arguments may be strong, but are they worthy of discussion when the experiences are fabricated? Making up facts in a documentary just to be in a foreign film festival is perhaps the ultimate embodiment of realism.

Drama