F for Fake

Orson Welles' last completed film is a freewheeling essay-collage about forgery, charm, and the difference between a lie and a story. It influenced everything from BBC's Adam Curtis to the modern video essay — but nothing has matched its sleight of hand.

• Welles' final completed film as director.
• Based on an unfinished BBC documentary about Elmyr de Hory.
• Includes long sequences shot before the project even became Welles's.
• The "girl-watching" sequence with Oja Kodar is entirely staged.
• Welles makes a literal promise not to lie for the first hour — and breaks it.

• "Almost any story is almost certainly some kind of lie."
• "What we professional liars hope to serve is truth."
• "For nine days I lied my head off."
• "It's pretty, but is it art?"
• "You will be the judge."