The story of Frédéric Bourdin and Nicholas Barclay
I don’t usually watch documentaries, but this one stood out to me, and I had to watch it.
The Imposter is a true story, entirely based on real events, that follows the case of a missing boy named Nicholas Barclay. The documentary begins with the discovery of a teenage boy in France, found alone in a telephone booth with no passport or identification. When the police arrive, they are told by unknown callers—who claim to be tourists—that the boy appears to be around 14 or 15 years old. The officers take him to the police station and begin questioning him, asking where he came from and how he got there.
This marks the beginning of the story of “Nicholas Barclay.”
When questioned, the boy claims he can’t remember much due to the trauma he endured. He tells the police that he needs to stay overnight, and by morning, he’ll be able to recall everything they need to know. Shockingly, they agree to this. Left alone for the night, the boy begins searching for a missing person’s case he can use to assume a new identity—one that won’t raise suspicion. Eventually, he comes across the case of Nicholas Barclay and decides that this is the identity he will steal.
He calls a missing persons agency, pretending to be a law enforcement officer, and delivers the news:
“It’s a miracle. It’s him. We got him.”
By doing this, he sets the stage for his deception, ensuring that officials are already working to confirm his identity before anyone questions him.
The next morning, after quickly learning some details about Nicholas, he presents himself as the missing boy. He provides just enough information to make his story believable. The agency then contacts Nicholas Barclay’s family—this is where things start to get crazy.
Nicholas’s sister, Carey Gibson (played by Anna Ruben), is the first to be informed that her long-lost brother has been found. Her reaction is a mix of excitement, shock, and fear—emotions vividly portrayed in the documentary. She immediately makes plans to fly out and bring him home.
At this point, the boy realizes the depth of his deception and what it will take to maintain it. He begins to panic, questioning how he will pull this off.
Then, he gets a reality check—he looks nothing like Nicholas Barclay. In a desperate attempt to make himself more convincing, he dyes his hair blonde, the only physical change he can make to resemble Nicholas.
When Carey arrives at the airport, she is informed that “Nicholas” has stayed in his room all day, supposedly too nervous to come out. While exploring the area, she catches a glimpse of him through a window before he disappears from view. Eventually, he comes downstairs to greet her. What follows is an emotional reunion filled with tears, disbelief, and confusion.
Carey begins showing him family photos—pictures of their father, mother, nephew, uncle, sister, and brother. Soon after, the FBI steps in to question him, wanting to ensure that what happened to him never happens again.
To verify his identity, they present him with photos he’s supposedly never seen before. However, by sheer luck (or incredible manipulation), he has seen them—Carey had shown him the exact same photos earlier.
From this point, the documentary unfolds into a mind-blowing tale of deception, manipulation, and sheer audacity.
This documentary is both fascinating and disturbing. It’s incredible to witness someone pull off such a massive deception—not just once, but multiple times throughout their life.
Frédéric Bourdin, the man behind the lies, is undeniably a master manipulator and, in a twisted way, a brilliant actor. To be clear, what he did was not admirable in any way, but it’s chilling to see how convincingly he played his roles. The fact that he later had children and a wife is even more baffling.
If you enjoy true crime, psychological thrillers, and jaw-dropping real-life stories, this is a must-watch.
If you want to know more about him, here is some research.
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