After her adoptive parents die, a young black woman seeks out her natural birth mother, only to discover her mother is white, thus setting in motion the revelation of a whole series of secrets and lies.
If a film fan had never heard of director Mike Leigh, one might explain him as a British Woody Allen. Not that Leigh's films are whimsical or neurotic; they are tough-love examinations of British life--funny, outlandish, and biting. His films share a real immediacy with Allen's work: they feel as if they are happening now. Leigh works with actors--real actors--on ideas and language. There is no script at the start (and sometimes not at the end). Secrets and Lies involves Hortense (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), an elegant black woman wanting to learn her birth mother's identity. She will find it's Cynthia (Brenda Blethyn), who is one of the saddest creatures we've seen in film. She's also one of the most real and, ultimately, one of the most lovable. Timothy Spall is Cynthia's brother, a giant man full of love who is being slowly defeated by his fastidious wife (Phyllis Logan).
There is a great exuberance of life in Secrets & Lies, winner of the Palme D'Or and best actress (Blethyn) at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival--not Zorba-type life but the little battles fought and won every day. Leigh's honest interpretation of daily life is usually found only on the stage. Secrets & Lies is more realistic than a stage production, however, especially when Leigh shows us uninterrupted scenes. Critic David Denby states that Leigh has "made an Ingmar Bergman film without an instant of heaviness or pretension." If that sounds like your cup of tea, see Secrets & Lies. --Doug Thomas
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Kitchen-sink comedy/drama with heart:
Mike Leigh's film won Best Picture at the Cannes Film Festival. A young black woman decides to find her birth-mother only to discover her mother is white, just one among many of the SECRETS & LIES of this tale. A first-rate cast delivers knock-out performances. A bit on the long side, the film has both drama and comical moments, with a healthy helping of tenderness. The DVD has a good quality transfer of the widescreen original but no bonus features apart from the trailer (and a few other trailers). A... more info
Quick ship - Perfect Condition:
This is a classic movie - one most everyone should own. Anyone should be able to relate to something in the movie. It is so well directed and acted that I tend to get lost in the reality of the story. It would be a dis-service to applaud one actor over another. They were all at their best. Don't miss this.
Beautiful Truth:
"Secrets and lies! We're all in pain! Why can't we share our pain? I've spent my entire life trying to make people happy, and the three people I love the most in the world hate each other's guts, and I'm in the middle! I can't take it anymore!" One of the most beautiful, heart-breaking, heart-warming, Truthful movies that I have ever seen.
Great Sunday afternoon movie:
As an adult adoptee, I found the premise of this movie really interesting (young woman decides to find birthmother, locates her, is surprised by what she finds - and there's much more to it) so I ordered it and sat down to watch it with my husband on a Sunday afternoon. It's a very well-written story (although some of the editing/direction is a little choppy)and very "real" - there's no fantasy world here. The acting is fantastic and very touching, accurately reflecting the upheaval (and fulfillment) that... more info
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