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IMDbPro

The Imposter

  • 20122012
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
48K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
9,255
783
The Imposter (2012)
A documentary centered on a young Frenchman who convinces a grieving Texas family that he is their 16-year-old son who went missing for 3 years.
Play trailer2:33
2 Videos
98 Photos
DocumentaryBiographyCrime
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
48K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
9,255
783
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Bart Layton
    • Stars
      • Adam O'Brian
      • Nicholas Barclay(archive footage)
      • Carey Gibson
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Bart Layton
    • Stars
      • Adam O'Brian
      • Nicholas Barclay(archive footage)
      • Carey Gibson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 102User reviews
    • 139Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 13 wins & 34 nominations total

    Videos2

    Theatrical Version
    Trailer 2:33
    Theatrical Version
    The Imposter
    Trailer 2:26
    The Imposter

    Photos98

    Adam O'Brian in The Imposter (2012)
    Adam O'Brian in The Imposter (2012)
    Bart Layton in The Imposter (2012)
    Adam O'Brian and Anton Marti in The Imposter (2012)
    Adam O'Brian in The Imposter (2012)
    The Imposter (2012)
    The Imposter (2012)
    The Imposter (2012)
    The Imposter (2012)
    The Imposter (2012)
    The Imposter (2012)
    The Imposter (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Adam O'Brian
    Adam O'Brian
    • Frédéric Bourdin
    Nicholas Barclay
    Nicholas Barclay
    • Self - Missing Person
    • (archive footage)
    Carey Gibson
    Carey Gibson
    • Self - Nicholas' Sister
    Bryan Gibson
    Bryan Gibson
    • Self - Nicholas' Brother-in-Law
    Beverly Dollarhide
    Beverly Dollarhide
    • Self - Nicholas' Mother
    Frédéric Bourdin
    Frédéric Bourdin
    • Self - Imposter
    • (as Frederic Bourdin)
    Nancy Fisher
    Nancy Fisher
    • Self - Special Agent, FBI
    • (as Nancy B. Fisher)
    Philip French
    Philip French
    • Self - Consul General, U. S. Embassy in Spain
    • (as Phillip French)
    Codey Gibson
    Codey Gibson
    • Self - Nicholas' Nephew
    Charlie Parker
    Charlie Parker
    • Self - Private Investigator
    Bruce Perry
    Bruce Perry
    • Self - Texas Children's Hospital
    • (as Bruce D. Perry)
    Allie Hostetler
    Allie Hostetler
    • Self - Nicholas' Neighbor
    • (as Allie Hosteiler)
    Kevin Hendricks
    Kevin Hendricks
    • Self - Nicholas' Childhood Friend
    Anna Ruben
    Anna Ruben
    • Carey Gibson
    Cathy Dresbach
    • Nancy Fisher
    Alan Teichman
    • Charlie Parker
    Ivan Villanueva
    • Social Worker
    María Jesús Hoyos
    María Jesús Hoyos
    • Judge
    • (as Maria Jesus Hoyos)
    • Director
      • Bart Layton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The family of Nicholas Barclay initially declined to participate in the documentary, as they felt they had been unfairly portrayed in the media in the past, and they had lost much of their home video footage of Nicholas in a fire. They eventually consented to be interviewed, and the small amount of footage that has survived was used.
    • Goofs
      At the beginning of the film, Frédéric Bourdin's hair line is very defined and has dark hair. But by the end of the film he has a noticeable receding hairline. However, the film portrays his talking scenes as one long interview as his shirt never changes.
    • 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.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Most Hard to Watch Documentaries (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Queen Bitch
      Written by David Bowie

      Performed by David Bowie

    User reviews102

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Compelling
    I saw this film at the 2012 Edinburgh Film Festival. The film focuses on the story of Nicholas Barclay who disappeared from his Texas home in 1994. Three years later he's found in France and then re-united with his parents. But it's obvious he cannot be there son. He's an impostor; a 23 year old con-artist. The film explores the unravelling of this story through interviews and very well realised reconstructions of the events. Documentary recreations don't always work and can detract from the interviews but here they work very well.It makes for a strange and compelling film. A deliberation on the nature of truth and lies that had me completely gripped.
    helpful•42
    23
    • Gregorgreene
    • Jun 26, 2012

    FAQ1

    • Does the IMDB description add spoilers to the documentary?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 24, 2012 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Avalon (Spain)
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Самозванець
    • Filming locations
      • San Antonio, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • 24 Seven Productions
      • A&E IndieFilms
      • Channel 4
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $898,317
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $22,379
      • Jul 15, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,001,877
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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