No Lies is a short, “fictional documentary” from 1973 in which a woman tells of her experience of rape to an insensitive filmmaker who refuses to believe her.
No Lies is an exemplary look into the relationship between filmmaker and audience. Mitchell Block does an outstanding job at breaking all the rules to manipulate his audience. There are several things he does to dupe his viewers. By using a non-fiction approach to his fictionalized work, Block assumes responsibility on his subjects. He makes his audience believe that this is a work of non-fiction. After enduring a truly disturbing look into the woman’s experience with rape, Block reveals that the film is, in fact, acted (subliminally, through the use of credits). This is his first step in manipulating his audience.
The second aspect is the relationship of filmmaker to subject. Block creates a script in which the filmmaker (or actor) forcefully probes the information out of the woman, and then refuses to believe her when she admits to her experience with rape. This insensitive filmmaker is inturn hated by the audience, further manipulating the filmmaker/viewer relationship.
The third aspect is really a combination of the two. Block creates an immoral and unsettling filmmaker, and then tricks the audience into thinking that this is indeed a real person. When all is revealed to be a “lie,” the audience is left feeling a sense of betrayal.
His efforts to manipulate his audience are not in vain. In my opinion, Block uses this style to make a statement about the reality of rape. By lying to us and creating this situation (which isn’t far-fetched from reality), he is critiquing society’s view on rape. By taking on a sceptical viewpoint, he is mirroring the many cases of rape victims stories called “unbelievable.” He might not have been able to focus on the important topics involving peer, authoritarian, and personal relationships if it would have been a true documentary.
What do y’all think? Could fake documentary sometimes fill in the gaps where cinema verite or traditional documentary lack?
Sarah, You've really been doing some interesting documentary archeology. Just an interesting sidenote: Mitchell Block recently directed a PBS reality series called Carrier. He is also on the Academy's short documentary jury. Another doc that explores this compelling area is Orson Welles' F IS FOR FAKE.
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