Robert Greene - Kate Plays Christine (2016)

Documentary film Kate plays Christine (2016) directed by Robert Greene follows Kate Lyn Sheil as she prepares to play the role of Christine Chubbuck - a news reporter who committed suicide on live television in 1974. The film blurs the boundaries of the documentary genre by bringing together reality and fiction through the use of scripted scenes and real life interviews. The film not only follows Kate's journey but sheds light on an event that is not talked about, and people are unaware that it took place, Kate becomes entwined with Christine's life meaning she wants to pay respect to a woman who has been forgotten. Although playing her as a character Kate is constantly feeling the pressure of doing the woman justice as her story is not well known.

Kate begins to draw parallels between their lives in the same way that Calle did in Double game (1999). In one scene Kate learns that Christine was an exceptional swimmer, unlike Christine Kate struggles to swim, the film cuts to a wide angle long shot of Kate dressed as Christine in a navy blue low scooped back swimming costume and wearing the wig she had earlier been given to play the role. The sea reflecting the sun we follow Kate start to push her way through the water attempting to swim and fight through her physically struggle. Seeing Kate fighting through her own physical struggles to become closer with the woman is powerful, we see what lengths she is willing to go to achieve a better understanding of Christine. A conversation is played while watching Kate try to swim "the water was her friend" Christine's mother repeats twice while having a earlier conversation with Kate. Kate attempting to connect with the water reminds me of the lengths that Sophie Calle went through to become closer to Maria. Reality playing reality, unlike all of the previous work I have talked about Kate is having to play out a woman who was real, she wasn't fabricated by authors, she wasn't materialised from Kate's wildest dreams.

The film is moving and thoughtful in the way Kate attempts to come close to a woman she has no memory of and limited information about. Thinking back to Gregory Currie's ideas of how fiction can influence our morals I think these ideas are prevalent in this film, although Christine's story is not fictive she is presented as fictional to Kate and this makes Kate realise that she needs to treat the role with sensitivity and respect meaning she wants to do good for Christine. Later on in the film we see Kate as she is dressed and ready to record the scene where Christine shoots herself.  While filming the crucial scene we see that she struggles to pull the gun and shoot, Looking physically sick and uncomfortable. As the viewer I now consider the problems with becoming too close to the 'character' you are playing, should actors remain subjective and distant to the individual they are portraying?