This film is a disturbing and thought-provoking documentary which focuses its spotlight in four-year-old Marla Olmstead.  Marla is a typical child, except that her paintings have been compared to such artists as Picasso, and they’ve sold for thousands of dollars.  At first this documentary is more of an exposé about the modern art world, where insane amounts of money can be spent on what appears to be random brushstrokes on a canvas.  Soon, however, the story turns, and becomes on one hand an examination of the controversy (initiated by a scathing 60 Minutes piece) of whether Marla is in fact the sole artist (or the artist at all); and on the other hand, a social commentary on the obsession this world has with child prodigies, and the drive to expose a child to the media spotlight by Marla’s parents (especially her father). 

Don’t expect any answers; like other successful documentaries (Capturing the Friedman’s comes to mind) it is left to the viewer to come to their own conclusions.  Is Marla a genius?  Is her work a fraud?  Is she being exploited for money or fame?  Or perhaps all of those things (or a combination) could be true.  Director Amir Bar-Lev searches for truth and substantial evidence, while Marla’s parents look to the documentary as the reply which will put questions of their honesty and integrity to rest.  Like so many other modern media stories, positive can turn to negative in the blink of an eye, and those who enter the world of the spotlight are often left wondering if they would have been better off if they remained in the shadows all along.

There is a brief section after the 60 Minutes piece airs where we are treated to some of the scathing and hateful emails sent to the email address the Olmsteads use for communication regarding Marla’s art.  I think one comment is the one thought I was left with when I exited the theater: “Better save some of that money you’re making for the therapy sessions your daughter is going to need.” 

I don't know how long a documentary like this will stay in the theater, but if you find it in your area I think it is worth seeing.