More4 commissions knockout docs for True Stories

9 June 2011

More4 has commissioned two new feature-length documentaries exploring extraordinary people as part of its flagship True Stories strand; Blood Line and The Great Pretender.

Blood Line, produced by ClearStory, is an intimate 1x70 documentary from award-winning photographer Leo Maguire, unveiling the combative world of gypsy and traveller men.

The documentary explores the legacy of violence handed down through generations of gypsy fathers to their sons through the poignant story of two families from the Irish Traveller and Romany gypsy communities. Bloodline looks at the joy of fighting with your fists for respect as well as the cycles of revenge that erupt into sudden and terrifying violence.

Maguire spent three years immersing himself in both communities, living with them in their camps and gaining unprecedented and intimate access to a world where male honour codes remain deeply ingrained. Highly stylized and combining visceral, beautifully shot HD footage with still photographs and animation, the film weaves together the poignant story of two families, whose fathers and sons are being raised to prove themselves with their fists...and explain their lives in their own words. Directed by Leo Maguire and executive produced by Russell Barnes and Molly Milton.

The Great Pretender is 1x70 documentary from Blast! Films charting the incredible story of America's most notorious conman, Clark Rockefeller.

The film tells the story of a man who started his life as Christian Gerhartsreiter, a poor country boy from Bavaria, and conned his way to the American dream and become Clark Rockefeller: banker, socialite and son of one of America's richest families.

In one of the most complex con America has ever known, Rockefeller created and lived five separate identities over four decades but whose real identity was only discovered after he tried to snatch his own daughter in 2008.

The Great Pretender, produced and directed by Louise Osmond and executive produced by Edmund Coulthard, unravels Clark Rockefeller's story, bringing to life his interior world, and his elaborate and fantastical confection of lies and fake identities - a scrapbook of lies and identities that shift and change like a Rubik's Cube

Anna Miralis, Editor, True Stories, said: "Both films offer an insight into worlds that are both familiar and yet alien. Leo's documentary is the product of immersing himself in the traveller community for three years, the mesmerising power of his photography is brought to life by film as we hear the stories behind the portraits.  The case of Clark Rockefeller is one of the most notorious con stories ever seen. Louise's ability to delve into what motivated him to construct such a fantastical history will make for compelling viewing." 

Blood Line and The Great Pretender are due to TX on More4 in December.

True Stories showcases and commissions the best feature documentaries from around the world. In the year to date, True Stories viewing figures are up 27% and the past 3 months have seen an increase of 61% including True Stories: Catfish which drew 658,000 viewers in May, with a further four films bringing in over 300,000 viewers in 2011.