...No Lies

In this uncomfortable 16-minute short film a casual chat with a woman preparing for a night on the town gradually turns into a confrontational interview when the subject begins describing the rape she suffered recently. There's a growing feeling of unease as the questions probe deeper into the traumatic details, and the unblinking eye of the camera only makes the encounter more frightening. But is the film an actual, spontaneous documentary or a Cassavetes-like improvisation? Viewers will be kept guessing until the very end, when the final credits reveal the hidden irony of the title, showing just how easily and convincingly the truth can be faked.

Fixating and memorable, "...No Lies" unflinchingly depicts human nature when faced with reality and the truth. A man films his girlfriend as she prepares for a night out. Small talk eventually leads to a heated and unsettling argument as the woman relates a harrowing experience she recently underwent. Whether a portrayal of mental illness or a pointed criticism of the "New Woman" or feminism of the time this documentary-like slice of reality will keep one on edge for most of its running time. This is what short films are made for.