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Student Travels More Than 5000 Miles To Meet With A Complete Stranger Suggested By Facebook

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When Facebook suggested Belgian film student Victor Van Rossem to be friends with a certain Neal D Retke, a man with a beard living in Austin, Texas, he was intrigued.

Why would Facebook suggest a stranger? Could they really be friends? Instead of sending a simple friend request, Victor jumped on a plane and went searching for Neal to see if Facebook was right.

The hilarious and pretty absurd short movie ‘Neal D Retke For President!’ documents Victor’s search for Neal and for friendship.

More info: vimeo.com

All he knew is that this guy lived somewhere in Austin

Film-student-travels-more-than-5000-miles-to-be-friends-with-a-complete-stranger-22

So he went over there

Student Travels More Than 5000 Miles To Meet With A Complete Stranger Suggested By Facebook

And asked people if they had seen Neal

Student Travels More Than 5000 Miles To Meet With A Complete Stranger Suggested By Facebook

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Put up posters

Student Travels More Than 5000 Miles To Meet With A Complete Stranger Suggested By Facebook

Found someone who knew Neal…

Student Travels More Than 5000 Miles To Meet With A Complete Stranger Suggested By Facebook

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…but thought it was a prank

Student Travels More Than 5000 Miles To Meet With A Complete Stranger Suggested By Facebook

Watch the documentary to see what happens next!

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67Kviews

thesamepage

The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot. (Werner Herzog)

The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot. (Werner Herzog)

What do you think ?

MwVervelia 9 years ago

never thought a documentary would touch me heart like this one did. This was unbelievable adorable...

7points

VictorV.R. 9 years ago

Well, thank you very much!

2points

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JohnF. 9 years ago

Awesome!

6points

thesamepage (Post author) 9 years ago

Thanks John!

2points

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BetsyBusch 9 years ago

Yay! Neal For President!

5points

thesamepage (Post author) 9 years ago

YES!

2points

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bubuletzzzz 9 years ago

Very cool. He's a very kind and funny man. I think it was totally worth knowing him.

3points

CrunChewyWatson 9 years ago

Your adventurous spirit will serve you well in this world! Thanks for sharing!

3points

WissamChidiak 9 years ago

It's been a long time since I enjoyed a movie or Documentary as much as I enjoyed this one! And Neal is just AMAZING!

2points

pipidoen 9 years ago

wow. Amazing.

2points

9 years ago

awesome :D

2points

shannynsletcher 9 years ago

This is so amazing, I haven't watched the documentary but I hope Facebook was accurate with it's suggestions, good luck!

2points

MarcoglieseLise 9 years ago

I loved it ! I love the idea, the subject and hope you will stay friends....

1point

NasprisLilianaNicoleta 9 years ago

I thought I'll stop it on the first 10 seconds, but it's so well done that I'm glad I wach it!! Congratulations guys!!

1point

blackdarkstorm 9 years ago

it's really GREAT ! I loved it . Why do you say at some point that John lury was aware of the project ?

1point

thesamepage (Post author) 9 years ago

Thanks! Victor and Neal are both fans of Lurie's work and he was the only mutual friend they had on Facebook.

1point

Load More Replies...

KrzysztofKiełpiński 9 years ago

Very inspiring!

1point

HannahKlopping 9 years ago

Are all the guys in Belgium so cool? I want to go there.

1point

HannahKlopping 9 years ago

SO GOOD! I will SHARE this and the warm feelings it gave me in my tummy.

1point

HannahKlopping 9 years ago

SUPER AWESOME. And with "ADHD" it's hard for me to sit....But I did, and LOVED this....I'd vote for Neal. Id fly to Austin to kick it too.

1point

MeganDeYoung 9 years ago

I actually enjoyed this documentary immensely. Lots of funny moments, too... all the segway shenanigans cracked me up!

1point

EvaValadez-Knight 9 years ago

I want friends like Neal, friends who just want to have fun..healthy simple fun. Great documentary!

1point

AlejandraMolanoTriviño 9 years ago

Amazing! Brave men

1point

Maja Lange 7 years ago

Wonderful! I smiled throughout.

0points

HazelSmith 8 years ago

Fabulous story, had to watch every minute of it.

0points

MártaTheCat 9 years ago

This is crazy! :D And awesome! :D I just can't stop smiling! :D

0points

SusannaVesna 9 years ago

Finally watched this! Unbelievable! This guy is so cool!

0points

ChristelPlatt 9 years ago

I cried!

0points

MarcoglieseLise 9 years ago

I loved it! I love the amazing idea, the subject and hope you stay friend....

0points

blackdarkstorm 9 years ago

It's really GREAT !! I loved it. Why do u say at some point that John lury was aware of the project ?

0points

atrnner 9 years ago

Where can I see movie?

0points

thesamepage (Post author) 9 years ago

O, the video seems to have disappeared from this post. You can watch it here on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/76253142

4points

Load More Replies...

MwVervelia 9 years ago

never thought a documentary would touch me heart like this one did. This was unbelievable adorable...

7points

VictorV.R. 9 years ago

Well, thank you very much!

2points

Load More Replies...

JohnF. 9 years ago

Awesome!

6points

thesamepage (Post author) 9 years ago

Thanks John!

2points

Load More Replies...

BetsyBusch 9 years ago

Yay! Neal For President!

5points

thesamepage (Post author) 9 years ago

YES!

2points

Load More Replies...

bubuletzzzz 9 years ago

Very cool. He's a very kind and funny man. I think it was totally worth knowing him.

3points

CrunChewyWatson 9 years ago

Your adventurous spirit will serve you well in this world! Thanks for sharing!

3points

WissamChidiak 9 years ago

It's been a long time since I enjoyed a movie or Documentary as much as I enjoyed this one! And Neal is just AMAZING!

2points

pipidoen 9 years ago

wow. Amazing.

2points

9 years ago

awesome :D

2points

shannynsletcher 9 years ago

This is so amazing, I haven't watched the documentary but I hope Facebook was accurate with it's suggestions, good luck!

2points

MarcoglieseLise 9 years ago

I loved it ! I love the idea, the subject and hope you will stay friends....

1point

NasprisLilianaNicoleta 9 years ago

I thought I'll stop it on the first 10 seconds, but it's so well done that I'm glad I wach it!! Congratulations guys!!

1point

blackdarkstorm 9 years ago

it's really GREAT ! I loved it . Why do you say at some point that John lury was aware of the project ?

1point

thesamepage (Post author) 9 years ago

Thanks! Victor and Neal are both fans of Lurie's work and he was the only mutual friend they had on Facebook.

1point

Load More Replies...

KrzysztofKiełpiński 9 years ago

Very inspiring!

1point

HannahKlopping 9 years ago

Are all the guys in Belgium so cool? I want to go there.

1point

HannahKlopping 9 years ago

SO GOOD! I will SHARE this and the warm feelings it gave me in my tummy.

1point

HannahKlopping 9 years ago

SUPER AWESOME. And with "ADHD" it's hard for me to sit....But I did, and LOVED this....I'd vote for Neal. Id fly to Austin to kick it too.

1point

MeganDeYoung 9 years ago

I actually enjoyed this documentary immensely. Lots of funny moments, too... all the segway shenanigans cracked me up!

1point

EvaValadez-Knight 9 years ago

I want friends like Neal, friends who just want to have fun..healthy simple fun. Great documentary!

1point

AlejandraMolanoTriviño 9 years ago

Amazing! Brave men

1point

Maja Lange 7 years ago

Wonderful! I smiled throughout.

0points

HazelSmith 8 years ago

Fabulous story, had to watch every minute of it.

0points

MártaTheCat 9 years ago

This is crazy! :D And awesome! :D I just can't stop smiling! :D

0points

SusannaVesna 9 years ago

Finally watched this! Unbelievable! This guy is so cool!

0points

ChristelPlatt 9 years ago

I cried!

0points

MarcoglieseLise 9 years ago

I loved it! I love the amazing idea, the subject and hope you stay friend....

0points

blackdarkstorm 9 years ago

It's really GREAT !! I loved it. Why do u say at some point that John lury was aware of the project ?

0points

atrnner 9 years ago

Where can I see movie?

0points

thesamepage (Post author) 9 years ago

O, the video seems to have disappeared from this post. You can watch it here on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/76253142

4points

Load More Replies...

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