Little White Lie

"Little White Lie" is an interesting documentary in that I was MUCH more interested in learning how they made the film as opposed to the content. Now this isn't to say the film isn't interesting or worth seeing--it's terrific. But how they filmed it...that's what I'd love to talk to the filmmakers about more than anything else.

The film is an interesting real life story about a young Jewish women who didn't look like a typical Jew. After all, although EVERYONE in the family convinced themselves she was normal in every way, she was pretty clearly bi-racial. The obvious yet unasked question is 'how can a woman give birth to a bi-racial child when her husband is white?'--and obviously the biological father was someone else. Yet, everyone in her life bought into this lie! How does all this play out---see the film.

The interesting part of all this is that you see the subject of the film, Lacey Schwartz, in therapy sessions talking about her true racial identity...which is super-odd. Later, even odder, you see her show at at a funeral for her biological father and folks walk around like it's a normal funeral...when it couldn't have been due to the camera crew. The same can be said about when she confronts her mother and father about her race. How could the film crew just happen to be there and no one thought anything of it?! I assume this was all re-staged for the cameras. And THAT is why I found this film so interesting...so unusual and worth seeing.

By the way, I know the original quote by Krylov is about an elephant in the room, not a gorilla...but this is a quote by one of the family members when they FINALLY got to talking about the whole race issue.

The reviews that say this documentary is disappointing, is telling a Little White Lie! This was truly interesting! I enjoyed watching it. Also, the ending of the film made me truly happy!

Well told,well directed, documentary on race being part of a troubled family's story.

The subject of race, identity and that sense of belonging is not explored enough. Main stream Society's takes all of these for granted & feels no need to talk about these issues because it doesn't affect them. Her family denied her skin colour and expected her to just accept the lie, that in itself is racist and must have been teary her apart inside even though she was convinced and brainwashed into thinking that she was white. Maybe the intention was to hide the Mothers lies of her affair with a Black man. Such shame if that got out! Never underestimate the power of denial though & the pressure on other family members not to question it.

As an adoptee now in my 60's I can relate to many of these issues. Lack of belonging/identity has taken its toll on my mental health throughout my life. I'm okay now and have learnt to love the skin I'm wrapped in. It's documentary's like 'Little White Lies' that make me feel heard. Of course ppl who grow up with own birth family's can still have identity crisis but looking very different from the rest of the family & not fitting into the place you were bought up in can be a 100 times more difficult to get through. Unfortunately we live in a superficial world that judges you on appearance first. I hope we get past this shallow perception and dismiss stereotypes.

The parents seem very self absorbed in their own pain and don't see their daughters. Did the Mother ever say sorry to Lacy & her Father for the lies. I hope she does! She owes her that much.

Only someone who's been through it can truly understand. However ppl can learn empathy and educate themselves by being open to Lacys story.

Some comments on here are fuelled with ignorance and hatred, and that's exactly why the questions of race and identity have to be talked about. If there were no racist bigots in the world we wouldn't have these problems in the first place! We are not separated by the colour of our skin but by the hardness of the heart.

Keep your heart open always I wish the family well.

I applaud Lacey Schwartz's intention and success in making this film, assuming I understand her intention, i.e., to bring to light the issue of lying and denial of truth within a family, as well as all the implications about race, being true to oneself, etc.

I related personally to the film on more than one level. Like both Lacey and her parents, I grew up in a New York Jewish household, so many of the cultural routines and features shown were ones I also experienced. I also have a "mixed" child; I am white and my son's father is black. Unfortunately, my son would not benefit from watching this film as he is developmentally delayed and would not grasp it.

I found myself feeling so warmly toward both Lacey and her mother and father. It is a testament to the love Lacey must have felt growing up, despite having been deceived, that she grew up to be so self-possessed, creative, and intellectually curious rather than becoming someone with anger, depression, and self-destructive behaviors which also could have happened and didn't. She seems to be as beautiful a person inside as she is outside.

And, I just love the way she ended the film, by saying she thought of changing her last name, having never particularly liked the name Schwartz, but ultimately decided to keep it because, ironically, in Yiddish, "schwartz" means "black."

I wish her, her parents, and everyone else in her family, all the best.