In Academy Award-wining director Errol Morris’s latest documentary film, “Tabloid,” which opens this Friday, Aug. 12 at the Coral Gables Art Cinema, he brings to life the fascinating true story of the wildly eccentric, deliciously bizarre and most likely delusional character of Joyce McKinney — the main character in the infamous Manacled Mormon case.

McKinney is an intelligent, lovable and beautiful woman who is a former Miss Wyoming World. However, McKinney had bigger plans. These plans involved kidnapping the man of her dreams. She just didn’t want him to get away. Like her life, Moriss’ documentary takes us on a surreal and almost unbelievable journey into the heart and mind of McKinney, whose actions were partly inspired by Theodore Dreiser’s “The Second Choice,” a short story she read in high school.

According to the widespread coverage in British tabloids and court documents, McKinney was arrested and charged with abducting Kirk Anderson from the front steps of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was imprisoned and chained to a bed in a cottage by McKinney and an accomplice. But, there is more to this complicated narrative.

“I’ve always been attracted to tabloid stories,” says Morris. “They involve people who have stepped outside the normal parameters of human existence, but they are not so outside of our own experiences as to seem unintelligible—people who, like in the case of Joyce McKinney, have done things that are truly remarkable and even close to being unbelievable. These kinds of stories represent a kind of portal—a wormhole in reality. You can go through and discover something utterly remarkable that you would not be aware of otherwise.”

We are a curious species shaped by our heart’s obsessions. Sometimes we get trapped on spin cycle and can’t escape the lies of our own deluded narratives. These head trips are often more powerful and pleasing than the reality we live, where life can be hard, boring, cruel and, most importantly, too real.

Thanks to Morris and McKinney, we learn something important about ourselves and humanity from a safe distance. We are never truly safe from ourselves.

Note: “Cinema Conversations” series featuring “Tabloid” takes place as part of the 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 screening.

South Florida Premiere of “Tabloid” in 2K DCP. Screenings: Fri. 8/12 at 5, 7 & 9 p.m.; Sat. 8/13 at 3, 5, 7 & 9 p.m.; Sun. 8/14 at 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.; Mon. 8/15 at 5, 7 & 9 p.m.; Tue. 8/16 at 4:30 & 9:15 p.m.; Wed. 8/17 at 4:45, 6:45 & 9:15 p.m.; and Thu. 8/18 at 5, 7 & 9 pm; Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables, Fla., 33134; parking on-site in covered garage; Tickets are $10; For more information, contact www.gablescinema.com, www.facebook/gablescinema, [email protected] or 786-385-9689.