Enemies of the State

TIFF 2020 01

Enemies of the State

The truth is never pure and rarely simple- Oscar Wilde This documentary film was about the case of Matt Dehart and his family against multiple accusations he faced such as child pornography, national security charges and dark-web allegations. This film, I believe, started as a passionate and zealous search for the truth about Matt's case through almost 15 years and the result is that in today's world, the truth is not a definite, absolute, certain object we can achieve, but rather a complex, between the webs of lies set of stories, manipulated facts with various groups interests integrated and intervened to try to shape and form them benefitting those interests. The film feels more like a story of an investigation with great use of cinematic techniques not unlike those of previous Errol Morris works, who also produced this documentary. It's a thought-provoking, intelligent film with lots to offer.

Very poor documentary, filled with eerie music, transitions, rambling monologues to fill time. You could fit all the information into maybe 20 minutes. Lots of chat about how he didn't get caught by people who keep protesting, not wanting to cooperate because they know full well what Matt DeHart was capable of doing and not the depressed church going young man. Was not convinced by the body language of DeHart and even less by the family members and those defending DeHart. Should have been a short film. But, like most crimes, hard to find the smoking gun but lots of evidence to show who likely used it to a low degree of doubt.

Very crazy story of consipracy to cover another crime. Or was it? Very open to interpretation of what happened. The presentation was pretty good. Nice reinactments using original audio. Overall a good documentary.

The documentary was overall interesting but heavily laden with actor recreating scenes that were wholly unneeded. In an age where everything is a conspiracy and there are 'heroes' everywhere against a 'shadowy government' this is an interesting look at someone who made such claims to distract from what the government was really trying to charge and prosecute. Beside the dramatic recreations the lack of an interview with the main subject is really to the detriment of the overall documentary. Over produced, over long, could have been edited down to an hour or an hour and a quarter and it may have been bumped up the rating.

I meant what I said long drawn-out movie with no real ending.