Netflix has acquired Geeta Gandbhir’s documentary, “The Perfect Neighbor,” which was one of the most acclaimed films of this year’s edition, and the best of the 25 or so titles I saw.
The deal is said to be for $5M, which makes it the fourth biggest sell of the fest after “Sorry Baby” (A24), “Train Dreams” (Netflix) and “Together” (Neon).
“The Perfect Neighbor,” shot entirely from police bodycam footage, and edited to perfection, follows a petty disagreement between neighbors in Florida that takes a lethal turn. Gandbhir’s film starts with the murder and goes back in time for us to experience the events that led to the tragedy.
This is not just a formally inventive film, utilizing two-person police POVs for shot-reverse shot, but also an intellectual exercise of modern-day America. Despite its topical nature, the film has total restraint, opting for a show and don’t tell motif to its narrative.
Gandbhir, very wisely, doesn’t turn the film into a civics lesson, refusing to provide us with any easy answers. The moral quandary at the center of the film resides in the inability, of some individuals, to decipher between fear and danger.
You’re going to be getting a lot of people talking about this film, whenever it starts screening on Netflix. There’s no way to avoid how jaw-dropping some of the moments in this film are.
”The Perfect Neighbor,” a true crime nonfiction that flips the genre over its head, will be an automatic Oscar contender for next year’s Documentary category. Here’s hoping Netflix treats it well.