Christian Weston Chandler Documentary

The age of the internet has given the world many things. Never before seen access to virtual worldwide communication. The rise of modern artists and filmmakers who are able to distribute their work independently worldwide outside of the studio system. The ability to quickly and efficiently find facts and statistics for virtually any subject imaginable. It truly is a magical time thanks to the many breakthroughs that the world wide web has afforded to people everywhere. And yet, like anything that has the potential for so much good, there is a dark underbelly to the internet...

That's where a peculiar young man named Christian Weston Chandler comes in. Christian is a high-functioning autistic individual who has become both famous and infamous across the annals of internet lore thanks to his eccentric behaviors, seeming constant ability to self-sabotage and his unfailing tendency to let so-called "trolls" (more-or-less one who is deliberately trying to cause tension or drama for their own entertainment) control his life. His sometimes erratic and illogical emotional outbursts and failure to comprehend the basics of social interaction have made him an easy target, and for the better part of a decade, he's suffered ridicule at the hands of others... though his behavior is often understandably the cause of it all, and it's clear that the entire situation could have ended years ago if he had simply taken a step away and ignored it. He's a polarizing figure to say the least, with people on both sides having their own valid points about whether or not the increasingly bizarre "trolling" aimed at him is justified.

This in-depth hour-long documentary was produced as a High School video project by YouTube user "Sachumo," and explores the history of Christian's life in addition to the many troubling events leading up to the present. It delves deep into Christian's troubled beginnings and alleged history of abuse at the hands of school officials and babysitters, before progressing through his entire life in exquisite detail, outlining and concisely summarizing most major events that have shaped him into the man he is today. All the while, Sachumo wisely remains impartial and presents the facts as they are, while never condoning either Christian or the trolls that are so fascinated with him. This is Christian's story, plain and simple, presented in brutal simplicity for maximum effect without pushing any sort-of agenda onto the viewer.

I've followed the story of Christian for a few years now, though I will admit I do feel a slight bit of guilt doing so. It's the ultimate modern variation of the proverbial "train wreck"... you don't want to look, but you can't stop staring. But often, what you watch or read is leaning morally to one side or the other. So it's refreshing to see such a well-produced work that presents the facts straight as they are. I was also quite taken by the obvious care and effort put into the production. This is clearly a passion project made over some time, and as someone with an interest in film and video production myself, I definitely appreciate it. As a school project and as an independently produced documentary, it's quite a revelation, and I'd highly recommend it for those who are interested in Christian, or the dark side of the internet in general.

I give it a near-perfect 9 out of 10.