In this episode of Welcome To The Party Pal host Michael Shields, with the help of film historian Christian Niedan, delve into the nature of truth, and of art, and of the fine line between deception and entertainment. To do this properly, two documentaries that expose the craft of deception are analyzed. First up, An Honest Liar, a documentary about the world-famous magician, escape artist, and world-renowned enemy of deception, James "The Amazing" Randi. Next, F for Fake is examined, a free-form documentary by Orson Welles where the legendary filmmaker reengages with the central preoccupation of his career: the tenuous lines between illusion and truth, art and lies. Beginning with portraits of the world-renowned art forger Elmyr de Hory and his equally devious biographer, Clifford Irving, Welles embarks on a dizzying journey that simultaneously exposes and revels in fakery and fakers of all stripes. Utilizing the content of these two thought-provoking documentaries that expose charlatans and con artists for what they are, and what they are capable of, Michael and Christian expound upon how truly anyone can be deceived while marveling at the profound talents of magicians and con artists. Join in on an episode of Welcome To The Party Pal that serves as a reminder to Question Everything!
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