White Lies

I loved it. The dialog was clunky but the performances were mighty and made up for it. I thought the 3 leads were fantastic. I wanted to know more about them all. I've been quite taken aback at the drastically opposing opinions. It's split my friends and family although I have to say the majority have absolutely loved but a few have disliked intensely. We've had a few arguments mostly because they felt picked on as white New Zealanders. I didn't, it was just too interesting. Such polarising views says a lot about the director. I felt she presented a very strong and unforgiving view of her interpretation of our history. Design and cinematography were outstanding. Bravo.

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.

I was fortunate enough over the weekend to attend a screening of NZ feature White Lies followed by a revealing Q+A session with writer/director Dana Rotberg, star Antonia Prebble, composer John Psathas and novelist Witi Ihimaera. It might seem odd for a film about NZ colonial identity to be made by a Mexican filmmaker, but surprisingly the story benefits greatly by coming from an outside perspective.

Adapted from Witi Ihimaera's novella Medicine Woman, White Lies doesn't have a particularly well told story at its core, but is nonetheless an important film for NZ to have produced. Set during the early days of settlement, the film depicts a sinuous power struggle between colonial housewife Rebecca (Prebble), her housemaid Maraea (Rachel House), and Paraiti (Whirimako Black), the Maori medicine woman whose particular skills and discretion are sought.

The shifting dominance of each of these women, representing different aspects of female identity at the time, weaves a compelling and bleak narrative, but some of the story beats that should have had greater impact unfortunately fall a little flat. Elements that needed more room to breathe play out much too quickly, not allowing audiences time to digest, although the film's closing scenes are powerful. White Lies deals with uncomfortable subject matter, and Rotberg doesn't shy away from the story's most tragic aspects.

Thankfully, White Lies looks better than any NZ film for some time. The cinematography by NZ legend Alun Bollinger gives the rugged setting of the film a beautifully oppressive quality reminiscent of his work on Vincent Ward's Vigil, and has moments of rare, haunting beauty.

It's a shame that most viewers will be unable to hear Rotberg speak about her approach to the film. The director's keen understanding of the tragedy of colonialism in her homeland brings significance to White Lies that a Kiwi director may have been guarded about addressing, and hearing her thoughts on NZ colonialism and our nervous attitude about exposing our own violent past was incredibly refreshing. Her desire to treat the subject with integrity while never sugarcoating it comes across with wonderful passion, and while she remained respectful of the source material, she makes no excuses for altering Ihimaera's work to suit her own vision. Despite the film's faults, White Lies takes more risks and offers deeper perspective than most NZ films of late.

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.

I had no hesitation in giving this film 10 out of 10. I thought it was extraordinary, as did everyone else in the cinema. Everyone sat respectfully and watched the credits roll and comments heard as we left the cinema were without exception complimentary. What a story - quite dark but very moving as we see the collision of two cultures. I believe White Lies has the potential to win Viewers' Choice Awards at film festivals. There was not a false note in it for me, although some may find Antonia Prebble's character quite rigid - but she needed to be. I am going to see this film again later this week, and it's not often that I do that.