Until now I was not familiar with Nathan Fielder’s artistic activity, although apparently I had seen him in the excellent Comedy Central web series “Drunk History” (2013-2019), as well as in several episodes of his series “Nathan for You “(” Nathan for You “, 2013-2017) on the” TikTok “website there are often snippets. That’s why “The Attempt” was an even bigger surprise, because I didn’t know what to expect from its creator. And I must say that it is not even possible to really prepare: the boundaries between truth and imitation push further and further, ending up in a surreal world from which it is difficult to escape.
In the first episode, Fielder, who is both the creator of the project and plays himself (aka a character named Nathan), tells viewers that he has spent much of his career analyzing people’s behavior to the point that he can accurately predict. their reactions in a wide variety of situations. And it is these years of research that led him to create this experiment called “The Trial”. With the help of Internet advertising, Fielder found volunteers ready to participate in his project, offering them the opportunity to experience specific problem situations. The first participant is a man named Kor, whose life plays an important role in the so-called “mind games”. Kor and his teammates participate in a trivia contest at a local bar, but it’s complicated by the fact that the man lied several years ago about having a master’s degree. Over time, this seemingly innocent lie has strained his relationship with his teammates, who send Cora job offers that match her education, and the man is forced to lie more and more. . Cor is ready to reveal the truth to his “mind play” buddies, but it is the reaction of a woman named Trish that worries him.
So Nathan Fielder enters this situation with an offer to attempt this difficult conversation with Trisha. At that moment, the completely unprepared viewer is surprised by the creator’s obsessive approach to finely designed details, manipulations and schemes, which are justified by achieving the highest possible credibility. Fielder hires an actress to play Trisha, builds an exact replica of the bar where the mind games take place, and tries to predict all possible scenarios. In order for Trisha’s character to communicate as authentically as possible with Cora during the conversation rehearsal, the actress uses a fictional reason to meet Trisha, learn as much as possible about her and be able to imitate her as accurately as possible.
Does it seem complicated and crazy to you yet? Don’t worry, this is just the beginning.
“Attempt”
Photo: HBO
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This seemingly simple problematic situation becomes increasingly complicated when Nathan realizes that he can foresee all possible situations, minus people’s emotions. And because people are neither puppets nor hired actors, “The Trial” becomes something of a learning curve for Fielder himself (or his character – we’re never quite sure if we’re seeing the real Nathan) failing to understand human emotions. . His rational and calculating approach, which identifies human relationships with algorithms, fills this project with philosophical questions about empathy, human nature and also makes us reflect on the ethical boundaries of television and media reality. Because even if all participants have agreed voluntarily or are professional actors, the audience constantly experiences how Natans lies to them or creates imitations of situations so sophisticated that the question arises whether all participants in the project really know what exactly they signed up for.
Although at first it appears that “The Attempt” will use the usual reality formula – each episode a new character being “helped to deal with the problem” – the focus shifts rather quickly. When Fielder meets a woman named Angela who wants to experience what she is like to be a mother, a series of unexpected twists leads him to be involved in the experiment himself. Angela and Nathan begin playing the roles of the children’s parents, who instead play their son Adam. Unbeknownst to Angela and Nathan, the Adams are replaced by increasingly older “actors” to create the most complete simulation of the experience of raising a child. And slowly, the proof that it was meant for Angela becomes a proof for Nathan himself. He will be able to be a father, he will be able to stand up for himself in a potential relationship and, in the process of seeking these answers, he will not traumatize the children their parents have involved in this project.
“Attempt”
Photo: HBO
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The reviews of “The Attempt” are very diverse: the project’s experimental and fluid gendered approach to the documentary genre is praised, as well as to comedy as such, but at the same time there are also many criticisms of the violation of ethical boundaries and morals, manipulation and self-indulgence by Fielder himself and the use of people. However, no matter what the attitude towards “The Attempt” is, these six episodes leave no one indifferent.
Although it is sometimes difficult to see the comic in absurd and often painfully uncomfortable situations, Fielder as a demiurge of these imaginary and at the same time real worlds is able to hold attention and surprise again and again.
Considering the fact that the methods of the creator of the project are very similar to the techniques used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), it is easy to believe that the participants were helped by everything they experienced. However, the feeling remains that Nathan Fielder conducts the real analysis and therapy for himself and that all involved are only secondary actors in his great “test of life”, looking for an answer to the question of what it means to be a real person. .
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