Lies My Father Told Me

Based on the life of Ted Allan, this film tells the childhood stories of a six-year old Jewish boy living in a poor neighbourhood in 1920s Montreal . David (the boy) has a special bond with his maternal grandfather (who lives with his family) but not so with his parents.

This film is a gem in so many ways. The neighbourhood of the family has a great oddity of characters who would be right at home in a Federico Fellini film with their various bonds and conflicts.

Jeffrey Lynas is perfect as David who carries the weight of the movie. His conversations with a female friend the same age (Cleo Paskal) and with his grandfather (supberbly played by Yossi Yadin) are the best moments.

The story also shows a contrast between the grandfather's basic spiritual values vs. Those of the parents (especially the father) who are materialistic. This makes the film relevant for our current times - or any time for that matter.

Mixing moments both hilarious and moving with nostalgia, viewing this film was a grand experience.- dbamateurcritic

Rating: 9 out of 10

Award-worthy Achievements:

1) Screenplay by Ted Allan

2) Performances of Jeffrey Lynas and Yossi Yadin.

Back in the 1970s, I played this movie at the Main Street Theatre, Flushing NY; which I was managing at the time. It did exceptional business in this predominantly jewish neighborhood, it also did well at other locations in the city. I loved it.

Great sets and costumes from the '20s, wonderful tender story about a young Jewish boy in Canada and his old-world Grandpa and more modern parents, and some really good acting--except from the one actor who needed to deliver an awesome performance. Jeff Lynas, the kid playing the central character, David, is so bad he brings down the whole production. He can't seem to offer any emotion at all when he speaks; he's monotonally reading his lines as he delivers them. Just hellaciously, frighteningly bad acting. I gave this a 6 because everything else was so good, particularly the sets and Len Birman's performance as David's pie-in-the-sky up-to-date father, but it'd take an act of God for me to sit through anything else Lynas is in.

I will bring tears to your eyes. It reminds me of my own Zaida, whom I love so much. I love the way it portrays the Hebrew way of life in 1920's Montreal. Suberb acting and directing. I want to see it again and again and again.

Some comments have pointed out that this is a movie that takes the child's POV. Well, that's true, but many films have done that and the tale they've told is sad (Ponette) or even harrowing (À ma soeur!). What this film captures is the divine reality that children and some adults are in contact with. It also relates the many other parts of a boy's role in a struggling Jewish Canadian family of the 20's, and does that quite well.

However, the mystery at the heart of life, the divine connection, that's what this film depicts best.

Alas, it's never been released in ANY consumer format! Who do we talk to about this injustice!