Plot: What’s it about?
Catherine Chapman (Sarah Polley) is a highly intelligent, beautiful young woman, but she has problems fitting in at her school. It seems as though the different races and social classes all keep to themselves, which pretty much leaves Catherine as an outsider. She soon finds a place where she can meet other alienated young people and even discuss her dislike of her overly liberal campus, but this place is not even real, it is an internet chat room. In this chat room, she becomes involved with a group called the National Identity Movement, which is led by Inga Kolneder (Lynn Redgrave) and to Catherine, it seems like this group has a lot of the same stances as she does. Once she meets with Inga and some other NIM members, Catherine is sucked into their world of hatred and resolve, due in no small part of a sense of belonging, which she lacked before. But as the group becomes more violent, she is forced to make some important decisions, including whether or not to become NIM’s new spokesperson…
I’d never heard of White Lies before this DVD was released, but as a fan of Sarah Polley’s work, I decided to give it a spin. This was a Canadian made for television movie, but don’t assume it is like most television films, as White Lies turns out to be more than solid. I do think it could have been much better, but the filmmakers fail to show us how Polley’s character ended up where she was, which leaves us out in the cold at times. I mean, we could just assume from what we’ve seen, but with a little more effort, the issue could have been better explained and by turn, White Lies would have been a better picture. In addition, the film takes a hard stance against rampant political correctness and that is most welcome, but it fails to paint a fairer overall portrait, as far as both sides of the racial hate issue. But White Lies also makes some good points and has some great moments, usually thanks to the gifted cast involved. Polley is excellent and if you ask me, it is worth the price of admission just to see her performance, let alone the film’s other positive elements. So whether you’re interested in the subject matter, just want to see Polley’s turn, or you simply can’t get enough Canadian cinema, White Lies is worth a look.
I’ve always been very impressed by her work, to the point that whatever films she is a part of, I see them if just to take in her performance. Such was the case with White Lies, as I had never heard of the film before, but with Polley involved, I knew it would be worth a chance. Polley is a very talented young woman who seems to have a knack for choosing roles, as she has yet to deliver a less than stellar effort on screen. Now she has been in some bad movies, of course, but she has been consistently good and enhances the films during her screen time. But even if you discount her acting abilities, Polley is a stunning beauty and adds visual charm to anything she touches, so don’t forget about that in the equation. Other films with Polley include Exotica, Guinevere, Jerry and Tom, eXistenZ, and The Sweet Hereafter. The cast also includes Lynn Redgrave (Gods and Monsters, Smashing Time), Tanya Allen (Regeneration, Tail Lights Fade), and Jonathan Scarfe (Slap Shot 2, The Lesser Evil).
Video: How does it look?
White Lies is presented in a full frame transfer, as intended. The image shows some grain and a couple of compression flaws, but all in all, this is a solid looking treatment, considering this was a lower budget, made for television project. The grain is thicker in the darker scenes, but never poses much of a distraction and on the whole, the print looks clean and shows minimal defects. The colors look bright and never smear or fade, while black levels come across in smooth, sharp fashion, though the grain does sometimes lower visible detail levels. But this is still a more than solid visual presentation, so no need for serious complaints here.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not too much to discuss here, as the included audio track sounds much like you’d expect from a made for television movie, solid, but also a little limited. But as this material doesn’t need much power, I doubt anyone will be let down, although the music is a little flat at times. The music does seem to be a little restrained in this mix, but sounds stable and consistent, so the audio isn’t too hindered in that respect. No issues in terms of dialogue and sound effects however, as those elements come across in clean, solid form throughout. Not the most memorable audio track, but it more than gets the job done, which is what counts.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some talented files, as well as a terrific twenty-six minute behind the scenes featurette, The Telling of White Lies. This piece includes cast & crew interviews, on set footage, and some cool general behind the scenes material, like seeing the cast getting their tattoos applied and such. A very solid behind the scenes featurette, which never becomes overly promotional, just a good peek into how White Lies was made.
