White Lie feels like a blend of a psychological thriller, a dramatic character study, and a crime movie. Yet the film, written and directed by Yonah Lewis and Calvin Thomas, is almost entirely composed of quiet moments. In lieu of noisy excitement, the filmmaking duo craft scenes where tension slithers in tacitly.
White Lie is a week in the life of Katie Arneson (Kacey Rohl), a college student who has made herself somewhat of a celebrity on campus. Katie is the face of a fundraising movement as she battles cancer and exists as a source of inspiration for her peers, who follow her on social media. Katie doesn’t actually have cancer, but she has been successful at fooling everyone into thinking she does, including her girlfriend, Jennifer (Amber Anderson). There’s a certain level of commitment to the ruse – Katie has to keep her head shaved and also keeps herself malnourished to give herself a more sickly appearance – but it’s quickly revealed to be a rather reckless endeavor.
Katie has been relying on a university scholarship for sick students in order to afford school, and is now being asked to provide proof of her illness via medical records. She apparently never considered that this would be an issue, and is thrown into a desperate scramble to forge the documents. Doing so ends up requiring a good amount of cash that Katie doesn’t have, and her lies begin to stack on top of each other until the entire scheme threatens to implode.
There are three main questions that the film keeps in the air: Why is Katie doing this? Will she be found out? What are the consequences if she does? Lev Lewis’ score features a squealing guitar and discordant drums that are initially a bit jarring, but quickly begin to reflect Katie’s fraying grip on her situation – and possibly her sanity. Katie is a difficult protagonist to follow; she makes dangerously reckless decisions, is incredibly manipulative (poor Jennifer is continuously gaslit to hell and back), and her deeper motives are unknown.
The best decision that White Lie makes is to never show Katie dropping the facade. There’s no scene where she’s alone and adjusts her posture or smiles to herself or something to that effect. Despite the numerous alarming examples of how she didn’t plan this lie out well enough, it’s obvious that she’s not giving it up anytime soon. “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth” is a depressingly effective propaganda technique, and it may pertain to individuals as well. Perhaps Katie is so deep into this lie that it’s now simply become the truth for her. Or perhaps not – another fun part of this film is its ability to draw multiple interpretations thanks to its intentional ambiguity.
Kacey Rohl is phenomenal in the role. She propels every single scene forward with a desperation and cunning that makes Katie a fascinating and gripping character to watch. Any time it seems like she’s close to breaking, she manages to worm her way out of every situation that threatens to expose her, with either tears or a smile. The rest of the cast is solid as well, particularly Anderson, who imbues Jennifer with such caring warmth that it adds an entire layer of tragedy to the whole deception. The two together make for the most engaging scenes of the movie.
White Lie presents the idea of someone making way too many bad decisions way too quickly. Eventually, something’s gotta give. A good companion film would be the Safdie Brothers’ Uncut Gems, where we watch Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler) live an unlucky and wildly reckless couple of days and refuse to throw in the towel. White Lie isn’t nearly as manic or energetic as that film, but it offers a quieter and more contemplative approach to a similar affair.
White Lie will be released on VOD January 5, 2021. Review screener provided.
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Verdict
Yonah Lewis and Calvin Thomas' White Lie is a tense story with strong performances about a girl faking a cancer diagnosis.
8
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As a film enthusiast and critic, I have had the privilege of exploring various genres and analyzing the craftsmanship behind each cinematic creation. Today, I would like to share my expertise on a captivating film called "White Lie." This psychological thriller, written and directed by Yonah Lewis and Calvin Thomas, seamlessly blends elements of dramatic character study and crime, creating an enthralling narrative that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.
One of the most remarkable aspects of "White Lie" is its ability to convey tension through quiet moments. Lewis and Thomas skillfully craft scenes where the suspense lurks beneath the surface, leaving viewers captivated by the subtle nuances of the characters' interactions. This deliberate choice allows the story to unfold in a manner that is both thought-provoking and emotionally gripping.
The film revolves around the life of Katie Arneson, portrayed brilliantly by Kacey Rohl. Katie is a college student who has managed to create a persona as a cancer patient and become a celebrity on campus. She serves as a source of inspiration for her peers, who follow her on social media. However, the truth is that Katie does not actually have cancer. She has successfully deceived everyone, including her girlfriend Jennifer, played by Amber Anderson. Katie's commitment to the ruse is evident in her physical appearance, as she keeps her head shaved and purposefully maintains a sickly appearance through malnourishment.
However, Katie's carefully constructed world begins to crumble when she is asked to provide proof of her illness for a university scholarship. This unexpected turn of events thrusts her into a desperate attempt to forge medical records. As the lies pile up, Katie finds herself entangled in a dangerous web of deceit, with the potential consequences threatening to unravel her entire scheme.
Throughout the film, three central questions linger in the air, keeping viewers engaged and invested in the story. Firstly, why is Katie engaging in such reckless behavior? Secondly, will she be exposed for her deceit? And finally, what will be the repercussions if she is discovered?
Lev Lewis' score plays a pivotal role in enhancing the film's atmosphere. The squealing guitar and discordant drums initially create a jarring effect, but as the story progresses, they serve as a reflection of Katie's deteriorating mental state and her increasingly tenuous grip on reality. This musical choice effectively emphasizes the internal struggle and psychological turmoil that Katie experiences.
One of the film's strengths lies in its decision not to explicitly show Katie dropping her façade. There are no scenes in which she privately adjusts her demeanor or revels in her deceit. Despite her flawed planning and the mounting evidence against her, it becomes apparent that Katie is unwilling to give up her charade. The film explores the concept of repetition, where a lie can become one's truth through constant reinforcement. This intentional ambiguity allows for multiple interpretations, adding depth and intrigue to the narrative.
Kacey Rohl's portrayal of Katie is nothing short of phenomenal. She infuses every scene with a desperate determination and cunning that make her character both fascinating and gripping to watch. Despite the constant threat of exposure, Katie manages to manipulate her way out of each situation, using tears or a smile to maintain her carefully constructed world. The supporting cast, particularly Amber Anderson as Jennifer, delivers solid performances that add layers of tragedy and empathy to the film.
"White Lie" presents a compelling exploration of the consequences that arise from a series of reckless decisions. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that the tension is building towards a breaking point. In this regard, the film finds kinship with the Safdie Brothers' "Uncut Gems," where the protagonist refuses to surrender despite the mounting chaos in his life. While "White Lie" differs in its quieter and more contemplative approach, it offers a similarly engaging experience, exploring the consequences of one's actions in a thought-provoking manner.
"White Lie" was released on VOD on January 5, 2021, and I highly recommend giving it a watch. This tense and emotionally charged film will leave you questioning the motivations and consequences of deceit, while also appreciating the exceptional performances and skillful storytelling of Yonah Lewis and Calvin Thomas.
