Voyeur

Voyeur is a fascinating and captivating documentary released in 2017 on Netflix. Inspired by the true story of journalist Gay Talese as he investigates one of the strangest and most controversial stories of his career, it delves deeply into the bizarre world of Gerald Foos, a Colorado motel owner with an audacious fetish.

The central figure of this documentary, Gerald Foos, is a seemingly ordinary motel owner that harbors an extraordinary secret. For years, he's been conducting a secret social study of his own devising, completely unbeknownst to his motel guests. Foos created a unique, voyeuristic system, a clandestine observation deck where he would watch his guests' private moments. Gay Talese, a renowned journalist, who had made a name for himself writing about the intimate and hidden parts of people's lives, was the person Foos decided to share his secret with.

The plot essentially revolves around Gay Talese's journey as he pens a book - 'The Voyeur's Motel' - based on the confessions of Gerald Foos. Talese, as an immersive journalist, is fascinated by human nature and stories that investigate the darker, more concealed aspects of personal psychology and society. Foos and his incredible tale of voyeurism provide the sensational elements Talese is known for meticulously dissecting. However, as Talese progresses with his research and writing, he encounters challenges and dilemmas that force him and the viewers to question the boundaries of journalism, privacy, and ethics.

Gay Talese's wife, Nan Talese, also plays an essential role in the documentary, providing a counterbalance point of view to her husband's fascination with Foos's peculiar behavior. The inclusion of her perspective lends a deeper and more profound depth to the documentary, keeping the narrative from veering too far into the voyeuristic realm itself.

This documentary’s dark charm resides in its audacity to delve into one man's world of voyeurism and obsession, and the moral dilemmas associated with it. Directors Myles Kane and Josh Koury brilliantly shield Voyuer from becoming voyeuristic itself by dwelling not only on Foos's intriguing actions but also on Gay Talese's struggle with the boundaries of immersive journalism.

Smoothly flowing between present-day footage, interviews, and re-enactments of Gerald's past with cleverly staged scenes, Voyeur manages to maintain an unsettling yet compelling tone throughout. A ‘fly-on-the-wall’ feel is undeniably present in this documentary as it takes the viewer on a riveting journey into the uncharted territories of privacy, imagination, obsession, and moral boundaries.

Voyeur challenges spectators to reflect on their behavior as viewers. Can we watch others without their knowledge or consent? Where does one draw the line between observation and invasion of privacy? We see these moral and ethical dilemmas play out – not only in Gerald Foos or Gay Talese's actions but – metaphorically – in our position as document observers as well.

The expertly crafted documentary ensures it taps into the primary characters' emotional and psychological states. These explorations add a human quality to the narrative that is otherwise fraught with ethical uncertainty. The viewer gets a vivid glimpse into the life of Talese, the charming, stylish New Yorker with a voracious curiosity that takes him into the darkest corners of human behavior, and Foos, the middle-American motel owner, with his peculiar habits and motivations.

Voyeur is not simply a narrative of scandalous intrigue but an exploration of journalistic ethics, an analysis of eccentric human behavior, and a study in moral dilemmas. With its compelling storytelling and stylistic cinematography, Voyeur becomes an unforgettable viewing experience that draws audiences into a while simultaneously challenging them to consider their perspective and their role in observing others' lives without permission.

This is a documentary that will keep you riveted to the end and leave you pondering the moral questions it raises long after the credits have rolled. While focusing on a peculiar, eccentric, and even troubling story, Voyeur ultimately emerges as an exploration of humanity – in all its fascinating, scandalous, and morally ambiguous glory.