‘The Tinder Swindler’ review: Netflix’s latest true-crime documentary is a lesson in vulnerability

“It’s an emotional hoax,” how Natalie Remo Hansen—a journalist excerpted in a Norwegian newspaper VG Inspired the Documentary – Describes the case of Simon Leviev, or as Netflix’s latest documentary calls him “The Tinder Swindler”.

Presenting as the son of an Israeli diamond magnate, Leviev uses the dating app Tinder to woo the first emotionally troubled “prince of diamonds” in his life. Then he redeems them financially from their mortal enemies, sinking his teeth deeper into the woman’s personal wealth with each new “threat” to her life.

Of course there is no danger, because Simon Leviev is not. The false heir uses money borrowed from a woman to sponsor his luxury lifestyle, and pretends the same to his next potential victim, weaving a thread of deceit in several cities in Europe.

But director Felicity Morris’s documentary isn’t about this thug; It’s about conned.

She gambles to tell the story of a small bet. This is not a story of a massive public scandal; It’s about a very personal loss. So why is it doing so well?

The answer is in the likes of Morris to focus on the narratives of three women – Cecilie Fjellhoi, Pernilla Szoholm, and Aileen Charlotte – who were duped by Leviev.

Unlike a typical conman documentary, tinder thug To some extent does not pave the way for glorifying the thief. The film doesn’t marvel at Leviev’s “talent” or “artisticity,” nor does it break down into a visual field on the perfect crime.

Instead, we see the complete financial collapse of these women, as they struggle not only to pay off debts, but also to heal emotionally, eventually leading to Leviev in the second half of the film.

The “Emotional Con” is eventually resolved by harsh candor in the film, as Cecilie and Pernilla band together to uncover Lviv’s complete chivalry at one of Norway’s biggest newspapers. VG So, vulnerability – Leviev’s weapon of choice – is turned against him as both women lay bare their entire journey in thugs.

There is quiet bravery in this act as both Cecily and Pernilla are involved, knowing full well the consequences of exposing themselves.

“I really don’t want to share this story,” is the first thing Cecily said in her interview. VG, Public ridicule becomes part of the conversation, as the film shows the brutal social media reaction to the article. Women called “gold diggers” deserved their loss. “I only tried to help people… I didn’t want anyone else to get hurt,” Pernilla says at one point in the documentary.

Where most true-crime documentaries struggle to cross the line between entertainment and telling a harrowing story, tinder thug It gets it right by making sure sensitivity is at center stage.

Stylistically too, it’s a delight to watch. The three women are interviewed at different restaurants, and the documentary begins with Cecily interviewing her. We spend about 21 minutes with her, listening to her story, and the movie feels very intimate, almost intimate, like you’re listening to a friend talk about her life.

The soft lighting in these scenes also provides much-needed respite from the screenshots associated with social media posts and voiceovers.

The film picks up pace as the end nears, giving the impression that we are headed for a victory; That the thief has finally been cornered. However, the retaliation proves to be small compared to the buildup it received.

The documentary closes with Cecily, Pernilla and Aileen expressing happiness over Leviev’s arrest, but a montage at the end reveals that he has served only a third of his sentence, and is currently a free man.

Erlend Ofte Arnsten, an investigative journalist VG Commented that since the crime was “a small scandal in their world…”, there was not enough incentive for the police to devote extensive resources to pursuing Lévive. The Times of Israel In 2020 it was reported that he was released as part of measures to reduce the prison population for fear of an outbreak of COVID-19.

Following his release in 2020, several articles published in local Israeli newspapers have featured the reaction of Leviev’s victims, including Pernilla, who has recorded his dismay. This is something the documentary also misses.

The story of Leviev and his victims does not end here. With the film attracting attention, NBC News reported that Leviev has been banned not only by Tinder, but also by other dating apps such as Match.com and OkCupid.

At its heart, the documentary feels like a relentless act of downright bravery for Cecilie, Pernilla, and Eileen. A story that made a splash in the Norwegian and Israeli media is now trending around the world. This has inspired three women, who still have financial loans, to start a GoFundMe page.

“We all want our lives to come back,” he says.

Tinder Swindler is currently streaming on Netflix