In a recent survey, it was discovered that the average American has just four close social contacts, with most having between two and six. Sadly, 12 percent of Americans surveyed had no one with whom they could discuss important matters or spend free time. This social isolation is part and parcel of our contemporary culture. On the other hand, every day we interact with people who are not included in our inner circle: Facebook friends, a waitress, a message therapist, or a coworker. Melinda Blau and Karen Fingerman have characterized these contacts as "Consequential Strangers" in their book of the same title. Consequential strangers may play a minor, limited, or temporary role, but they still make a contribution to the quality of our lives. In addition, the expansion of online communities and social networking sites reveals the yearning we all have to connect to wide variety of people beyond our loved ones. As a result, it seems, we're "in touch" 24/7.

In the documentary feature Catfish, Nev is a 24-year-old photographer in New York City; Nev's brother Ariel Schulman and his friend Henry Joost are filmmakers. The filmmakers are intrigued when Nev is contacted on Facebook by Abby, an eight-year old artist who has sent him a painting she has done of one of his ballet photographs. He is quite impressed with it and curious to find out more about her. So they begin an online correspondence. Abby's mother is very appreciative of what is happening between them. All of this contact with this gifted family in Michigan is surprising to Nev and the filmmakers, who have decided to make a documentary about it.

The real fireworks start when Nev begins to communicate online with Megan, Abby's older sister who takes a romantic interest in him. He is intrigued by a beautiful picture of her and their sexy interchanges via email and telephone. However, when Nev learns some shocking things about Megan, he and the filmmakers decide to pay a visit to her family and find out the truth.

There have been plenty of movies over the years about the foibles, flaws, and fantasies of computer dating services but never a drama as bold as this one which probes the strange things that can take place in our online communications.

In Consequential Strangers, Blau and Fingerman point out that technology has transformed the ways in which we "do" relationships; similar to the telephone, the Internet has greatly amplified our connections. In addition, we often have our private conversations in public. This unusual documentary challenges us to look hard at ourselves and the expectations we have about online relationships. Although we have been raised to treasure the familiar and the comfortable, there is a part of us that craves new and ever more exotic relationships. That's exactly what Nev feels as his romantic connection with Megan comes to dominate his life.

The surprising finale of Catfish is immensely rewarding with its unique blend of zealotry, loneliness, creativity, and genuine emotional catharsis. It proves once again that no matter how sophisticated and complicated our technology becomes, the mystery of the human personality always shines through when we least expect it to.


A special feature on the DVD is "Secrets Revealed": an exclusive interview with the filmmakers.