White Lies

2013
7| 1h36m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 26 June 2013 Released
Producted By: South Pacific Pictures
Country: New Zealand
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

A medicine woman - a giver of life - is asked to hide a secret which may protect one life but which will destroy another.

Genre

Drama, History

Watch Online

White Lies (2013) is now streaming with subscription on Prime Video

Director

Dana Rotberg

Production Companies

South Pacific Pictures

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

Stream on any device, 30-day free trial
Watch Now
White Lies Videos and Images

White Lies Audience Reviews

Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some
JinRoz For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!
Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...
Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
Robert Maier Who knew that New Zealand's Maori natives suffered the same hellish treatment dished out by the English Empire around the globe. This is another chapter of Western "civilization" the elites would prefer to have kept swept under the rug. It's a sad tale of gender, racial, andethnic prejudice and abuse. The director is young and inexperienced, but tries her hardest to convey original ideas in new ways. Her bravery in tackling such a delicate subject with honesty is unique. It's very difficult to be picky and compare techniques to Spielberg, and the Hollywood elite who had so much more to work with in their careers. I applaud this director, cast, and crew for doing a great job. If your idea of a great film is STAR WARS, you can pass this one quietly by. But if you're a curious person who enjoys history, politics, and deeply emotional situations in foreign cultures, you'll find this quite compelling and rewarding.
konketsuji72 Despite the myopic comment referring to the title being inappropriate, it couldn't be more valid to the story line. A "White Lie" is a lie that is perceived as being harmless or trivial and told to avoid hurting another persons feelings. This is exactly the theme. It is a story set in the post-colonial period of New Zealand where cultural beliefs clashed heavily against one another. It was a time where necessity often meant that people would have to give up their identities in order survive in an environment that had very little opportunity (or compassion) for the native race that had suffered the typical injustices of colonialism. Against this backdrop is the story of a mother and her daughter who are trapped in a lie - a lie that separates them from their culture, as well as from each other. It is to a very sad extent that the mother drives her daughter to an impossible way of life all for the sake of blending in and the perception of wealth and well-being.An incident drives her mother back to her native roots to find a solution for her daughter - who is facing severe consequences, possibly fatal. From this point the mothers fears and lies are confronted.It is a slow, quiet but very emotional tale. The three main characters portray this emotion wonderfully.Admittedly, this may not be a tale for everyone, but it does try to convey the struggles that were undoubtedly common for this time period. And as such, the way the movie depicted a mothers love for her daughter and the extent she will go to give her what she thinks her daughter needs, suited the era it was set in.I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It was a pleasant surprise.
dennis-j-hogan This was a superb film highlighting the clash of cultures and the ramifications resulting therefrom. In this case, it is a clash between traditional Maori and English colonial cultures. What is the value of culture and what is the price of conformity? It is a well-developed movie. The acting was very good. The characterization was rigid and predictable based upon a viewer's initial observation of the characters and their respective roles, which actually enhanced the maintenance of the secret until late in the movie. Clues are provided that almost reach the level of red-herrings, but they are real clues with multiple interpretations that become clear as the movie progresses. All is not as it originally seems.I happened to be on an Air New Zealand flight that offered a selection of New Zealand-made films or I probably never would have had the opportunity to see this excellent film. If I had a vote, it would get my vote for best foreign film.
metaphorphis I agree with the majority of these reviews. I was looking up to see what other films one of the actors on White lies had been in (Taika's film Boy, must watch it again) and well I'm kind of freaked out with the luvnotwar person. Top of the Lake and White lies are both so accomplished! What on earth? Sure, a few faults here and there for both but I wouldn't think that the acting in either deserved moaning about. Yes, Elizabeth Moss accent was weird in a few places but being a character who had traveled all over the world it is little wonder the accent strays. Have you heard Anna Paquin being herself lately? Crazy accent. Very cool. And the performance of Elizabeth Moss was brilliant. There is a style of acting my mate reckons we've become accustomed to in this country. A friend, an actor, calls it "soft whisper acting". I will not attach it to any show but it definitely seems a requirement for some local drama I've watched lately and it works perfectly well too. I loved the boldness of all the actors in Top of the Lake and White Lies. I've mostly seen Rachel House, Nancy Brunning and Elizabeth Hawthorne in theatre shows some years ago now. They were fabulous in White Lies. I heard Antonia was great in Outrageous Fortune. I've been away for a few years, didn't have time to lock in to Blue Rose on my return. Anyway, thanks for annoying me enough to become a member. Might go and score some other films now. White Lies is intense and definitely worth seeing. Still thinking about it. Take a hankie.