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The Falconer is an assembly of media fragments that together form a documentary investigation into the many lives and careers of the enigmatic Peter Lorrimer Whitehead. Co-directors Chris Petit and lain Sinclair have pieced together a yarn that spans four decades. The Falconer is a detective story, as concerned with myths as it is with facts.
Whitehead has purposely shrouded himself in mystery. In the 60s he was the darling of the pop elite: Whitehead's film Tonite Let's All Make Love in London (1967) boasted a who's who of rockers, models and aristocrats. After flirting with celebrity, he submerged himself in an artistic underworld amidst wild allegations ot everything from plagiarism to murder. Interviewees allude to connections with drug smuggling, espionage, black magic, ritual sacrifice and even bestiality! Whitehead, a born showman, neither confirms nor denies much of anything, he simply smiles impishly and flashes sparkling hooded eyes. By the time the investigation is complete, enough wild theories have been thrown up to script another season of The X Files. Just as exciting as the compelling subject matter is Petit and Sinclair's visual approach. In the vein of Peter Greenaway's television projects (A TV Dante for example) digital animation, treated footage and layers of sounds are combined into a rich stew of images.