Documentary Movie Reviews

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Untold: The Girlfriend
Who Didn't Exist (2022)

Rate: 10
Viewed: 9/26

Manti
9/26: Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist is the only one of the Netflix series that's worth watching.

Until now, you could've considered me completely unknowledgeable of what happened to Manti Te'o back then. I tried reading a summary several times to understand the case but quickly gave up because I didn't understand. "Catfish" was a term I had never heard of despite the tasteless show being on MTV. Now, I have to say this documentary is the clearest explanation.

That's because everybody started from the beginning and took his or her time to explain how the hoax came into existence. What helps a lot, and this is the first time ever, is the involvement of the affected parties: Manti Te'o, his parents, and Ronaiah Tuiasosopo. No matter what, this is very embarrassing stuff that would've driven a lot of people to suicide.

After all has been said and done, I've arrived at three conclusions. The stupid hoax cost Manti Te'o millions of dollars. He's certainly not a bright individual, having been 100% absorbed by football all of his life, but still, I sympathize with him although this question must be asked: "How could this person be considered as his girlfriend if they hadn't yet met, even after three years?" Ronaiah Tuiasosopo is among the most fucked-up individuals ever walked on Earth.

What bothered me for the longest time is the lack of verification by the media when it came to the death of Manti Te'o's girlfriend. After he announced it, were they going to say, "Oh, that's sad...okay, let's run with the story right away"? At least, to make the documentary stronger is how two reporters from Deadspin achieved a breakthrough.

If there's anything I scoffed at, it's how Notre Dame University is presented. I agree the school did manage to achieve a clean-cut image for decades, but that all changed when it hired Lou Holtz as the head coach who went on to recruit criminals and athletes who couldn't academically meet their high standard, so the team could compete on the national stage once again. All you have to do is look at the Gerry Faust years and then afterwards. For further explanation of how this happened, you're well advised to read Under the Tarnished Dome: How Notre Dame Betrayed Its Ideals for Football Glory by Don Yaeger. Oh, Rudy? The story is 90% untrue, and even Joe Montana hates it with passion, having played during the same season.

All in all, Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn't Exist is a must-see documentary.