A medicine woman--a giver of life--is asked to hide a secret which might protect one life but will definitely destroy another.A medicine woman--a giver of life--is asked to hide a secret which might protect one life but will definitely destroy another.A medicine woman--a giver of life--is asked to hide a secret which might protect one life but will definitely destroy another.
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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.
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.
- konketsuji72
- Apr 12, 2015
- Permalink
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Did you know
- TriviaOfficial submission of New Zealand to the Oscars 2014 Best Foreign-Language Film category.
- How long is White Lies?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,760
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,740
- Mar 6, 2016
- Gross worldwide
- $457,346
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
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