Today, reality television is a juggernaut seen by millions of people. In 1998, the concept was less than a decade old and was still trying to figure out what it could and could not do. It was still years before the toothbrush incident on Big Brother caused nationwide outrage and television executives were still trying to figure out what audiences would be willing to accept. The Contestant is a documentary that chronicles a particularly cruel example.
Nicknamed Nasubi, Tomoaki Hamatsu is an aspiring comedian who decided to participate in a reality show. The premise is interesting enough. Nasubi is left alone naked in a room with nothing but magazines. The goal is to win one million dollars in mail in sweepstake prizes. His winnings would also provide the necessities he needed to survive.
Even for Japan’s notorious television slate, it is a dangerous and difficult show. It was also completely fake. The only problem was that Nasubi had no idea. The entire ordeal was being livestreamed online while footage was compiled, edited, and re-aired for a weekly television show. The show became a huge hit that broke a number of records. Since Nasubi was cut off from the outside world, he had no idea.
It is a wild concept that The Contestant is able to capture the essence of the show while missing out on anything of too much substance. Modern day interviews with those involved give insight into what was happening but never go far enough. The story itself is interesting enough; the film just should have tried to explore the deeper and more disturbing questions behind what people will do for fame.
The Contestant is now showing in UK cinemas and streaming on Hulu.
