White Lies (Mentiras Piadosas)

Director: Arturo Ripstein
Screenwriters: Paz Alicia Garcia Diego

Institute History

  • 1991 Sundance Film Festival

Description

Israel Ordonez, owner of an herb store in Mexico, is a married man with three children. He and his homosexual friend, Matilde, have been working for ages to construct a model town which they hope to sell to a museum of fantastic art. Their plan for financial gain, however, falters when Israel falls in love with Clara, a petty bureaucrat, who's also married and has a family. The two leave their families and move in together in an impetuous act of amour which leads finally to heartbreaking consequences for everyone. Deborah Young of Varieo, said of White Lies: "Ripstein has painted a fresh and curious picture of love in the lower depths. The overwhelmingly sordid love affair has a gritty true-to-life feel, but is still delicately tender. Ripstein fills the screen with rich detail and convincing clutter. Clara and Israel's homes are masterpieces of overcrowding. White Lies boldly depicts lovemaking between two not very attractive people but manages to be emotionally moving rather than the traditionally comic."

— Geoffrey Gilmore

Screening Details

Credits

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