The first time an episodic series was programmed on opening day of the Sundance Film Festival happened a lifetime ago — i.e., just this past January. And the series to be awarded the unusual distinction was similarly unconventional.
Love Fraud is unsurprisingly well-crafted, considering that the Oscar-nominated duo of Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (
Jesus Camp;
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You) are the filmmakers behind this four-part docuseries premiering August 30 on Showtime. The series takes an often noirish approach to the inspired feminist takedown of the truly bizarre Richard Scott Smith. An identity-thieving bigamist who spent a whopping two decades conning lovelorn, mostly middle-class women out of their money and sense of self-worth, Smith is transformed from dating-site predator to targeted prey when the ladies he duped join forces to find, capture and ultimately bring the pathological fraudster to justice.
And zealously leading the chase is one no-nonsense, tough-as-nails chick — who has never even met Smith. Indeed, the filmmaking team’s secret weapon, a scene-stealing bounty hunter named Carla, is every bit as determined to put a stop to Smith’s heartbreaking and bank account-draining as any of his actual victims. Which is why
Documentary is excited to spotlight this uncompromising, unorthodox victim’s advocate as our August Doc Star of the Month.
To read my first-ever interview with a bounty hunter visit
Documentary magazine.
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