Watch White Lies

White Lies is a dramatic movie that was released in 1997. It was directed by Kari Skogland and written by Skogland, Anne Cameron, and Rita Shelton Deverell. The film takes place in rural Canada in the early 1960s and focuses on the relationships between three individuals: Catherine, her brother Billy, and her best friend Louise. Julie Warner plays Catherine, a woman who has recently returned to her family's farm after being away at college. Catherine is intelligent and independent, but she struggles to fit in with her conservative family and community. Lawrence Gilliard Jr. plays Billy, Catherine's younger brother who is considered to be slow-witted by his family and peers. Billy loves his sister deeply and is fiercely protective of her. Terry Kinney plays Dr. Wynn, a family friend who becomes involved in Catherine's life in unexpected ways.

The main conflict in the movie arises when Catherine becomes pregnant and decides to get an abortion. Abortion is illegal in Canada at this time, so Catherine has to travel to a nearby city to have the procedure done in secret. She confides in Louise, her best friend, about the pregnancy and the abortion, but Louise has her own secrets to keep. Louise is a Black woman who has been passing as white in order to gain access to better opportunities in life. She is married to a white man and has a child with him, but her past is always lurking in the background.

As Catherine goes through the emotional ordeal of her pregnancy and abortion, she becomes increasingly isolated from her family and community. Her father is a stern and traditional man who disapproves of her choices, and her mother is distant and unemotional. Billy is the only person who seems to understand Catherine and support her, but he is limited in his ability to help her by his own intellectual limitations. Dr. Wynn, who is married with children, becomes romantically involved with Catherine in a way that is complicated and fraught with danger.

Throughout the movie, themes of secrecy, deception, and betrayal run deep. All of the main characters are keeping secrets from each other, and those secrets threaten to destroy the bonds that they have built. Catherine's abortion, which is the central event of the movie, is an act of both defiance and self-preservation. She knows that she cannot have a child at this time in her life, and she is determined to take control of her own body and future.

White Lies is a movie that deals with complex and difficult subject matter, but it does so in a sensitive and nuanced way. The performances by the actors are excellent, and the cinematography captures the stark and beautiful landscape of rural Canada. The movie is not without its flaws - some of the subplots feel underdeveloped, and the pacing can be slow at times - but overall it is a thoughtful and engaging piece of work.

One of the strengths of the movie is its willingness to delve into issues of race and class in addition to its exploration of gender and sexuality. Louise's story, in particular, is a fascinating and painful portrayal of the limitations that were placed on Black people in the 1960s. Her decision to pass as white is understandable but also deeply sad, as it reflects the harsh reality of a world that was unwilling to recognize and value Blackness.

In conclusion, White Lies is a movie that tackles its difficult subject matter with sensitivity and depth. It explores complex themes of gender, sexuality, race, and class through the lens of a small community in rural Canada. The performances by the actors are excellent, and the movie is well-crafted and thought-provoking. It is a movie that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

White Lies is a 1991 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7.