The first five minutes of The Perfect Story hit me like a freight train. Sometimes both as avid enjoyers of media and as citizens of a first world country, we often forget the harsh realities that greet others outside the scope of our vision. The Perfect Story takes you by the hand and tosses you into a tale of journalism, compassion and basic human survival.

Written and directed by The Toronto Star’s Michelle Shephard, the 75 minute film has also been entered into DGC Canadian Documentary Competition where it will compete for a $5000 prize.

There’s a lot to unpack in this documentary – not only is it a riveting tale, there’s also something to be said about its exploration of ethics within the broadcast and journalism industry. What is a journalist’s place? We’re taught that it’s about being neutral, an observer to the truth so that we can relay it back to others in the purest form. But what happens when something inside of you screams at you to not just sit and watch? 

We dive into The Perfect Story through the eyes of Shephard as she navigates perilous Mogadishu, Somalia, trying to tell the story of Ismael Abdulle. Abdulle was captured by terrorist group al Shabaab, imprisoned and had his right hand and left foot cut off. The film poses questions to the audience: ‘Where is the line?’ At what point does your humanity overpower your sense of responsibility to stay as an impartial observer? 

Aside from exploring the moral implications of getting too close to the story, from a technical standpoint, it’s well done. Drone shots, war footage and sliding graphics were used in conjunction to highlight various aspects of journalism, humanity and storytelling.  The story is told through many years as well as with many tools but it felt cohesive and thought out – I never felt like I was being yanked or pulled away from the narrative. 

With that being said, I did feel like certain portions of the narrative felt a little bit forced – especially the re-enactments. Having the director personally involved in the story feels… off. Because of Shephard’s proximity to the story, it occasionally felt as if perhaps it was a dramatization of the truth. On the other hand, it might just be because the truth is more ridiculous than reality.

The documentary felt like an appeal, a lesson and a journey all at once. It belongs in a first-year journalism course – a stellar example of why the journalist code is important but perhaps also when to break or not to break as well. Overall, it was compelling and dazzling with a twist at the end that made me grit my teeth a little.

The Perfect Story will be world premiering in cinema at the Calgary International Film Festival on Sept. 24 at Eau Claire theatre. It will also be premiering online from Sept. 29, 10AM, to Oct. 2. You can buy tickets online or in-person during the festival.