Okay, So... Was He REALLY a Bad Guy in "Close-Up"?

Okay, so I just finished watching "Close-Up" with Maya and Ben, and I'm still kinda reeling. That movie messes with your head in the best way. Like, on the surface, it's about this guy, Hossain Sabzian, pretending to be the director Mohsen Makhmalbaf. He cons this family, right? But the more you watch, the more you wonder... was he really that malicious? I mean, the family is kinda naive, and he does take advantage, but it felt more like he was escaping into a fantasy. He clearly idolized Makhmalbaf and maybe just wanted to experience a sliver of that artistic life. There's that scene where he's 'directing' the mom and the son, and he's so passionate, even if it's all a lie. I almost felt bad for him when he was getting arrested! Like, yeah, what he did was wrong, but the punishment of getting arrested felt a bit harsh considering what he actually did. Ben brought up a good point – maybe Sabzian saw the movie as his way of directing, even if technically he was conning but the family was happy and he got to live out his passion for directing, so isn't that success? What really got me was the ending, when the real Makhmalbaf meets Sabzian. That car ride is so awkward and poignant! It's like, even Makhmalbaf understands Sabzian's obsession on some level. It makes you question the whole idea of identity and authenticity. Ultimately, I think Sabzian's actions were wrong, but I'm not totally convinced he's just a villain. There's a deep sadness and yearning there that makes him a really complex, almost sympathetic character. What do you guys think? Was he a criminal, or just a desperate dreamer (or both)? And what's with the director being unknown?? Kinda weird if you ask me.