Die Hochstapler

Apr 26 2007 N/A 1h 24m
Crime, Documentary

As common as they are in literature and the movies, in real life there aren't many crooks who will agree to discuss their crimes publicly. In Con Man Confidential, four pathological liars talk candidly about their schemes, their victims and their motivations. It took director Alexander Adolph a couple of years to gain the trust of his subjects and to get unlimited access to their criminal files. Now, Torsten S., Marc Z., Peter G. en Jürgen H. explain how they led double lives for years.

Plot

Peter managed to sell rich executives tickets for a trip to the moon. Torsten passed himself off as diplomatic ambassador for a lark. In four hours Marc sold a holiday home he didn't own. In this riveting documentary, Alexander Adolph has four lifelong con men describe how they con and what drives them to do it. To listen to these men tell, with some pride, how they have swindled scores of "greedy" people out of their savings, you might think that they are some kind of modern-day Robin Hood. To listen to the devastated victims and ashamed family members is another matter. Not surprisingly, behind the heartlessness of these crimes are men with very messed up childhoods. A chilling, absolutely engrossing insight into the type of person we hope we only ever come across on a movie screen.

Written by

Alexander Adolph

Directed by

Alexander Adolph, Nina Ergang

Cast

Torsten Schmitt, Mark Z., Peter Groth

Crew

View crew

Languages

Deutsch

Awards

1 win & 1 nomination

Scores
# of Votes
138
Average Rating
7.3 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA