the good lie
The Good Lie: (Drama): 80 out of 100: Although it could have been more powerful given the subject matter, this film is a heartwarming tale of Sudanese refugees living in the United States. There are quality dramatic moments with an injection of humour in some scenes, especially involving the fish-out-of-water scenario where the Sudanese refugees are adapting to their new way of life.
The film starts off in Africa where a group of Sudanese children who have been left orphaned must escape from the civil war that is taking place. They walk a long distance to Kenya to seek refuge there. They join a long waiting list of those people who wish to relocate to the United States as part of "The Lost Boys" humanitarian program. After about 13 years, the main characters (three males and a female) are on the list to be given a fresh start in a new country.
The four main Sudanese characters are actually portrayed by people who had some direct involvement with the crisis in Sudan. This we discover in the closing credits of the film. These are actors I have not seen before yet they perform with distinction and you can really empathise with them. Reese Witherspoon isn't the main star but is reliable as ever playing the employment agency counselor who goes above and beyond her duty of caring for these refugees. She doesn't appear in the movie until about the half hour mark when the refugees arrive in America.
Good use has been made of the location shots in Africa. The landscape provides an ideal setting to the narrative. You get a sense of how treacherous it would have been for these children of trying to escape from the violence in their country. The scenes in America provide the humour and tension when the main characters are trying to adapt to a new society.
"The Good Lie" provides the right balance of drama and humour to ensure that the viewer is engaged in the story. It's not a life-changing experience but it is a film that will entertain and move you to a certain extent.
Starring Reese Witherspoon and Arnold Oceng
(110 minutes)
Parental advice: Violence, drug use and adult themes
Additional scenes during or after credits: Yes, during the credits there are photographs of real life refugees plus the actors who play the refugees have a written description of how they were involved as refugees from Africa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B32NXtkUB6s (Movie trailer)
(Reviewed on Tuesday 30th December, 2014)
