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White Lie 2021

Runtime

96 min

Language

English

English

Driven by a need for attention and financial stability, a university student invents a serious illness. What begins as a desperate act quickly spirals out of control as she finds herself entangled in an increasingly complex web of lies. She must then confront the consequences of her actions and the challenge of maintaining the elaborate deception she created.

Driven by a need for attention and financial stability, a university student invents a serious illness. What begins as a desperate act quickly spirals out of control as she finds herself entangled in an increasingly complex web of lies. She must then confront the consequences of her actions and the challenge of maintaining the elaborate deception she created.

Does White Lie have end credit scenes?

No!

White Lie does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of White Lie

Explore the complete cast of White Lie, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for White Lie

See how White Lie is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where White Lie stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Echo Score

The Movie Echo Score

68

Across its runtime, the film relies heavily on a commanding central performance and sustained psychological tension. Conflict over trust and deception unfolds at a measured pace, though moments of ambiguity and an abrupt ending occasionally disrupt narrative clarity. Visual and auditory elements support the dramatic tone with subtle restraint, while the final act’s underdeveloped resolution tempers the overall impact. Viewed as a whole, the film presents a thought-provoking but uneven exploration of moral complexity.

The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for White Lie

50
Echo Score

Art & Craft

In terms of art and craft, the film employs a methodical pacing and restrained visual palette that support its psychological tension. The cinematography captures intimate moments in serviceable framing, though it rarely expands beyond functional shot composition. Editing maintains a steady rhythm until the final act, where abrupt transitions underline an unfinished quality. Overall, the technical design is competent but not striking.

88
Echo Score

Character & Emotion

When it comes to character and emotion, the lead performance anchors the drama with nuanced shades of empathy and manipulation. The protagonist’s layered portrayal elicits both sympathy and discomfort, while supporting roles offer measured contributions to the central conflict. Emotional beats are sharpened by moments of psychological push and pull, underscoring the film’s investment in interiority. The result is a richly observed character study that sustains viewer engagement.

65
Echo Score

Story & Flow

With regard to story and flow, the narrative presents a timely exploration of trust and deception, structured around escalating stakes. Early acts build suspense effectively, though the plot’s conclusion arrives abruptly and leaves key questions unresolved. Pacing oscillates between deliberate tension and sudden shifts, creating an uneven rhythm. While certain sequences resonate through conceptual originality, the overall coherence is hindered by its underdeveloped resolution.

55
Echo Score

Sensory Experience

In terms of sensory experience, the score and sound design cultivate a subdued tension that underscores the film’s psychological themes. Ambient effects and restrained musical cues support rather than overwhelm the narrative. Visual styling remains consistent with a muted color palette, enhancing the understated mood. Although these elements cohere to establish atmosphere, they stop short of delivering a memorable sensory imprint.

70
Echo Score

Rewatch Factor

When considering rewatch factor, the film’s moral ambiguity and character complexity invite reflection and discussion. Ambiguous ending encourages interpretive reevaluation, and moments of psychological insight hold up on subsequent viewings. However, the abrupt narrative closure and absence of deeper plot resolution may limit its lasting appeal for some audiences. Overall, it offers moderate replay value for those intrigued by character-driven material.

Metacritic

81

Metascore

tbd

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

92%

TOMATOMETER

review

86%

User Score

IMDb

6.6 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

66

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate White Lie Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of White Lie with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


White Lie Quiz: Test your knowledge about the movie White Lie!

What illness does Katie pretend to have?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for White Lie

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Read the complete plot summary of White Lie, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


College student Katie Arneson is living a duplicitous life, having pretended to have cancer for ten long months. Under the guise of illness, she manipulates those around her by taking placebos, shaving her head, and deliberately losing weight to appear more unwell. Her deceit has made her a minor celebrity on campus as she capitalizes on her false condition for both emotional and financial benefit, successfully crowdfunding support while charming friends—including her unsuspecting girlfriend, Jennifer Ellis.

When Katie learns that a crucial university bursary is in jeopardy unless she can produce valid medical records by the week’s end, her world begins to unravel. She turns to a medical resident for help in forging the necessary documents but struggles to come up with the $2,000 he demands without raising suspicions. Feeling the pressure, she reaches out to her estranged father, asking for the funds under the false pretense of attending a special treatment clinic. However, her father sees through her ruse and refuses, accusing Katie of lying about her illness—a painful discovery resurrecting memories of when she faked sickness in high school before her lies were exposed. Despite her father’s sincere plea for her to come clean, she is adamant, choosing to stick with her deception.

In a desperate move, Katie then approaches Jennifer, whose family is affluent. Jennifer willingly agrees to help her, but later that night, Katie finds a worrying message from her father to Jennifer about her fraudulent claims. In a panic, she deletes the message and blocks her father’s number from reaching her girlfriend.

After submitting the forged medical documents, Katie is momentarily relieved and visits Jennifer’s family. However, the relief is short-lived when she discovers that her father has publicly exposed her lies in a Facebook post. In a fraught attempt to salvage her reputation, she consults a friend whose mother is a lawyer, hoping to sue her father to compel him to take down his damaging post. During this conversation, she is horrified to learn that if she is proven to be lying, she could face legal consequences for defrauding her supporters.

As her support system dwindles, Katie spirals deeper into a series of misguided choices that reinforce her deceit. Determined to keep her relationship with Jennifer intact, she dismisses her chance to confess the truth and instead continues to manipulate her devoted partner. When Jennifer expresses her unwavering support and insists on attending all of Katie’s medical appointments, Katie proposes marriage, claiming, “If we marry, I won’t lie, I won’t be sick anymore.” As Katie steps into the studio for a radio segment aimed at restoring her public image, she leaves a stunned Jennifer behind, where emotions run high and the reality of betrayal becomes clearer than ever.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for White Lie

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from White Lie. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


WHITE LIE Trailer | TIFF 2019

PFF29 Live Q&A | WHITE LIE

White Lie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


female topless nuditycancershaved headlesbian interesttext messagefemale protagonistwritten by directorcell phoneiphoneinstagramfemale nuditynudityred dressfather daughter relationshiplovekissfemale female kisssocial mediauniversitylaptop computercanadaclass differencespopularitydialogue drivenlesbian relationshipbetrayaldeceptiondancelocker roomprescription drugshamilton ontario canadabald womanradio stationfraudfundraisingvomitingregretvoice mailurinationelevatoryom kippurlesbian coupletoiletmental healthsuicidemoneypillsliarlieillness

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