I, Psychopath

How often do you get to see a psychopath up close? In feature films, perhaps, but then the character is a product of the screenwriter's imagination. Research suggests, however, that as much as one percent of the population suffers from a psychopathic disorder such as borderline or paranoia. Or narcissism, as Israeli-born businessman Sam Vaknin claims to. In , Vaknin, his wife Lidija, and documentary filmmaker Ian Walker go in search of a diagnosis. But this is no easy task, because whatever the experts have to say about him, Vaknin's response is often infuriating in the extreme; he also proves to be a masterful manipulator. It produces interesting material for Walker, but it also brings the filmmaker face-to-face with himself. Walker expresses his concerns about this road trip with a potential psychopath through video diaries and voice-overs. As the film progresses, Walker becomes increasingly entangled in Vaknin's psychological web. "All documentarists are junior psychopaths, manipulating people," acknowledges Walker. But is this opinion justified, or has he become the victim of his hyper-intelligent subject? And what are we to think of Lidija, Vaknin's wife, who willingly subjects herself to a life with someone who verbally abuses her on a daily basis?