White Lies (2013 New Zealand film)

White Lies is a 2013 New Zealand film directed by Dana Rotberg and starring Whirimako Black, Antonia Prebble, and Rachel House. It is based on the novel Medicine Woman by Witi Ihimaera. The film premiered in New Zealand cinemas on 27 June 2013.[2] It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.[3][4] The film was selected as the New Zealand entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards,[5] but it was not nominated.

White Lies
Directed byDana Rotberg
Produced byJohn Barnett
Chris Hampson
Screenplay byDana Rotberg
Based onMedicine Woman
by Witi Ihimaera
StarringWhirimako Black
Rachel House
Antonia Prebble
Music byJohn Psathas
CinematographyAlun Bollinger
Edited byPaul Sutorius
Distributed byMadman Entertainment
Release date
  • 27 June 2013 (2013-06-27)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryNew Zealand
LanguageMāori
English
Box office$2,760[1]

Plot

White Lies is a story about the nature of identity: those who deny it and those who strive to protect it. Paraiti (Whirimako Black) is a medicine woman. She is the healer and midwife of her rural, tribal people - she believes in life, but new laws prohibit unlicensed healers. On a rare trip to the city, she is approached by Maraea (Rachel House), the servant of a wealthy woman, Rebecca (Antonia Prebble), who seeks her knowledge and assistance to hide a secret that could destroy Rebecca's position in European settler society. If the secret is uncovered, a life may be lost, but hiding it may also have fatal consequences. Paraiti, Maraea and Rebecca thus become players in a head on clash of beliefs, deception and ultimate salvation.[6]

In the extras of the DVD, Witi Ihimaera tells how his mother took him to Paraiti, a tohunga/healer who cured him of a breathing problem. In writing the story, he wanted to honour the various tohunga in Māori life. In 1907, the New Zealand government passed the Tohunga Suppression Act to outlaw natural healing for Māori.

Some people believe the author of the book drew on the life of Anglo-Indian actress Merle Oberon and the hiding of her true ethnic origin.

Cast
  • Whirimako Black as Paraiti
  • Rachel House as Maraea
  • Antonia Prebble as Rebecca
  • Nancy Brunning as Horiana
  • Te Waimarie Kessell as Aroha
  • Kohuorangi Ta Whara as Wirepa
  • Elizabeth Hawthorne as Hospital Matron
  • Te Ahurei Rakuraku as young Paraiti
  • Tahuri o te Rangi Trainor Tait as Paraiti's Grandfather
  • Kyle Pryor as Soldier
  • Rawiri Waiariki as Horiana's Grandchild
  • Te Whenua Te Kurapa as Pirimahana
  • Tangiroa Tawhara as Woman with Bad Leg
  • Vanessa Paraki as Limping Girl
  • Phil Peleton as Chemist
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See also

References

[7] [8] [9]

  1. "White Lies". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  2. "White Lies | Tuakiri Huna – Theatrical Trailer (NZ)". Sounzgood. 15 March 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  3. "White Lies". TIFF. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  4. "Toronto Adds 75+ Titles To 2013 Edition". Indiewire. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  5. "Oscars: New Zealand picks 'White Lies' for Foreign-Language Race". Variety. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  6. "White Lies | New Zealand Film Commission". Nzfilm.co.nz. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  7. "White Lies trailer - Story - Entertainment". 3 News. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  8. Ihimaera, Witi. "White Lies by Witi Ihimaera - Books - Random House Books New Zealand". Randomhouse.co.nz. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  9. "White Lies - Coming soon to cinemas". Flicks.co.nz. Retrieved 5 May 2013.


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