We All Lie My Darling

A drama that looks at the difficulties of being young and gay, and trying to figure out your place in the world. Good performances and direction, and a story that takes an honest look at romance, love, and loss, which is a universal experience regardless of orientation.

I cannot believe I am the first to review this amazing film, which deals with a group of people who join together and support and even to fall in love with each other. Set in Sydney it shows how being ' different ' from the norm, and often outcast by those who supposedly love them, can become a family of friends. It deals with tact and delicacy the predicament of finding you are HIV+ and the young man who goes through this needs all the love and understanding that he deserves. I do not want to single out a single actor as the acting is above criticism and brought me to tears by its sheer force of reality. There is no ' plot ' in the conventional sense and set against the bars and streets of Sydney it totally convinces. There is a scene towards the end when a drag artist, who has been beaten up, speaks of how despite everything we must all live life to the full. This may sound almost trite, but given the various ' stories ' in the film, which are all complex and involving it rings with such conviction that you believe you are hearing it for the first time. Above all it shows how countries have different approaches towards being ' different ' and Australia does not, in my opinion, come out too well. I cannot recommend this film enough, beautifully filmed and directed, and as long as oppression exists this film will always be needed. Straight or ' different ' this film deserves to have a wide showing as heterosexuality and both male and female homosexuality weave together in a pattern that makes life itself both brighter and better. A loud bravo for excellence.

This movie has lots of really cute moments of LGBT relationships and friendships throughout and that's the strongest element of the story. Lots of men kissing each other and women kissing each other. Love to see it! The music is really good, both the score and the needle drops. Really appreciated how appropriate it was in every scene. I love how the city of Sydney plays a role here. The locations and establishing shots did a lot for the visual aesthetic of the movie. I wish the script was stronger and the story had more development, since some of the characters and storylines needed more resolution, but overall it's a sweet film.

Now regardless of it's authenticity, this has got to be one of the worst acted films I have seen a very long time. Set in Sydney, it tells the story of the lives and loves of a group of friends in what is ostensibly a welcoming, thriving and inclusive community. "Michelle" (Ayeshah Rose) takes a different approach to "coming out". She firmly believes it is a matter of personal choice and not something that should be done to accommodate the expectations of others - a view that seems to emancipate "Kat" (Daniella Serret). Meantime, the rest of her friends seem to be wrestling with the usual fears of ageing, loneliness, lust v love, trust issues, yada yada. It's quite a nice looking movie and Rose does have a certain charisma on screen, but the rest of this is just a bit of an over-scripted, humourless, yawn. Maybe it's because I have long since ceased to be a thirty-something, but the angst and weariness of the personalities here just wanted me to scream out - "try living this lifestyle in a wet and presbyterian Scotland in the 1970s, baby! Get over yourselves". Eighty minutes of my life I will never get back - not for me, sorry.

A movie about friends, lovers, outcasts and hardships. And overcoming it all! I don't know why, but I was reminded of "Rent" which is one of my all-time faves. Really glad I took a chance on this.