15 Most Powerful Documentaries Of The Decade (So Far)

8. Catfish

Following the release of Catfish, a huge furore erupted as people lambasted the film as a piece of cynical exploitation, and even accusations from some quarters that the entire thing was made up. Filmmakers Ariel Schulman, Nev Schulman and Henry Joost even faced the possibility of trial to swear the validity of the documentary under oath. While the idea that the events depicted could well be fabricated might lesser the enjoyment for some, on one level these doubts and accusations only serve to make watching Catfish even more compelling. The documentary's "real life" narrative is itself all about misdirection and deception (explaining it in detail would spoil any surprises) so the idea that the filmmakers themselves are party to such insincerity gives it greater levels of meaning. Whether or not Catfish is an authentic piece of documentary filmmaking, it's a compelling insight into the way in which people wear metaphorical masks in an attempt to be something they're not.