On 4 August 2006, the American Internet provider AOL erroneously put the search terms of 350,000 Americans online for a few days. Before the data were removed, countless copies were spread all over the world. The filmmakers used the information of AOL subscriber '#711391' and constructed a tragicomic story around this anonymous user. Static images of Alaska - I love Alaska, #711391 entered one day - form the backdrop for the text that entirely consists of the search terms she entered. From 'tapeworms' to 'the best ceiling fans', from 'the benefits of camomile tea' to 'the best nude scenes from 1990': together, all these words constitute a surprisingly rich description of the world that #711391 lived in at the time. Behind the anonymous words lies a tragic story about her personal relationships. At the end of the documentary, an intriguing thought emerges: could it be that, without the users realising it, search engines have replaced the traditional confessional box?
Credits
Director
Producer
Camera
Sound editing
Montage
Production company
Submarine Film
TV company
VPRO TV
NFF Archive
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Stills
