What Is Lies My Father Told Me About?
The premise of Lies My Father Told Me in 303 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the cramped streets of a 1920s Montreal Jewish ghetto, a six‑year‑old boy learns the world through the rhythm of horse hooves and the murmurs of distant prayers. The city is a patchwork of bustling markets, narrow stairwells, and the soft glow of Sabbath candles, each corner humming with the hopes and hardships of its tight‑knit community. From this rich tapestry, David watches adults juggle ambition and survival, while his own imagination turns ordinary moments into quiet adventures.
At the heart of his small universe sits his grandfather, a rag‑and‑bone man who hauls a weathered wagon and a loyal horse through the neighborhood. Zaida is a scholar of the Talmud, his gentle humor and steady cadence offering a sanctuary from the louder urgencies of adult life. Across the yard, Harry, David’s father, pursues entrepreneurial dreams that clash with the family’s modest means and cultural expectations, creating a restless undercurrent beneath the household’s affection. Annie, his mother, weaves care and resilience into the daily routine, grounding the family amid the swirl of external pressures.
The film breathes a tone that balances melancholy with a tender, almost wistful humor. Everyday scenes—Sunday rides, neighborly banter, the scent of fresh bread—are rendered with a texture that feels both intimate and universal, hinting at the fragile line between security and uncertainty. The world feels lived‑in, its streets echoing with stories of past generations while bearing the weight of future possibilities.
Through David’s eyes, the audience is invited to glimpse a coming‑of‑age tale that is as much about the quiet bonds of family as it is about the larger forces shaping a community on the brink of change. The story lingers in the spaces between laughter and longing, promising a gentle exploration of memory, identity, and the subtle ways we anchor ourselves in the midst of an ever‑shifting world.
What Happens in Lies My Father Told Me?
The complete story of Lies My Father Told Me, from the first scene to the last, in 770 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 3 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
David [Jeff Lynas] is a six-year-old boy living in a Jewish ghetto of Montreal in the 1920s. He shares a close, if fragile, world with his parents Harry Len Birman and Annie Marilyn Lightstone, and with his grandfather Zaida Yossi Yadin, a rag-and-bone man who hauls his horse Ferdeleh and a weathered wagon through crowded streets. Zaida is a scholar in his own right, still reading the Talmud and treating it as the only book he has ever read. David adores the Sundays when he can ride with Zaida, savoring the companionship of the old man and the steady glide of the horse, even as the hum of neighbors and their complaints about the smell drift through the air. Zaida’s soft humor anchors the family’s world, and his patient cadence stands in quiet contrast to the quicker, louder urgencies of adult life.
The daily life in the block often brushes up against the neighborly row of concerns, most notably Mrs. Tannenbaum [Barbara Chilcott], whose steps and house are a constant backdrop to Zaida’s stable. Zaida jokes about covering Mrs. Tannenbaum’s steps with horse excrement, a notion that delights David even as the adult world around him recoils. It’s a moment that crystallizes how a child processes both mischief and consequences, and how Zaida’s humor helps buoy a family that skims the edge of instability. Zaida’s friend Mr. Baumgarten [Ted Allan] embodies a different appetite for change—he embraces the ideas of Karl Marx and the end of social class injustice—yet Zaida responds with a patient, faith-filled hope for a different kind of justice, one that comes with the arrival of the Messiah rather than a radical upheaval alone.
The father, Harry, is not religious and devotes himself to an entrepreneurial dream. He designs a pair of trousers that he claims will be impossible to crease, and he turns to Zaida for a $500 investment, insisting the business already has many orders and promising to repay with interest within a month. When the trousers are demonstrated, the knees reveal bulges that spoil the pitch and undermine Zaida’s uncertainty about funding. The moment strains the family’s already precarious finances and triggers a harsh outburst from Harry, who condemns Zaida as a miser and not a “real Orthodox Jew,” even suggesting that Ferdeleh should be killed. David overhears these threats and feels a mix of shame and embarrassment for the family he loves, especially Zaida, whose dignity is challenged by his son’s anger. In a bid to console Zaida, David admits that his father sometimes tells “terrible lies.”
Looking for a sense of security and perhaps a fresh start, Harry takes David on a different outing and frames it as a chance to escape the ghetto. Instead of a calm day by the water, father and son end up at a gambling club, and the conversation turns toward leaving the familiar streets behind. The news that the trouser orders have fallen through compounds the family’s troubles, and the collapse of the venture drives Harry toward bankruptcy. With the business dream evaporating, the family’s plans to move are also canceled, a relief that David feels in his heart even as practical fears about the future gnaw at him. Around this time Annie gives birth to David’s baby brother, which stirs a complicated mix of wonder and jealousy in the young boy as he notices the baby’s effortless feedings in comparison to his own neglected position in the family balance.
In the wake of these upheavals, David’s disillusionment with the adults around him deepens. He acts on a stubborn impulse to make the world feel a little fairer by continuing Zaida’s long-standing habit of covering Mrs. Tannenbaum’s steps with horse excrement, a tiny act of rebellion that echoes his longing for justice, even if it’s misguided and childish. The police arrive to inspect Zaida’s stable, discovering that it violates bylaws by being too close to residences. Zaida is given 30 days to move, a verdict that sharpens his decline. He becomes gravely ill, and David is sent to his uncle in order to prevent the illness from spreading. When he returns, Harry delivers the painful news that Zaida and Ferdeleh have both died.
The shock of loss hangs heavy over the family, and David, distressed by the death of the grandfather who anchored his world, runs from home and imagines Zaida returning to greet him once more. The film closes on that haunting blend of memory and longing, a boy who has glimpsed a gentler, wiser presence in his grandfather and who must now navigate a future shaped by the absence of that steady, loving presence.
Lies My Father Told Me Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
11 key events in the order they happen, from “David's Sundays with Zaida and Ferdeleh” to “David's despair and longing for Zaida's return”. 11 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
David's Sundays with Zaida and Ferdeleh
David cherishes Sundays with Zaida, riding the rag-and-bone wagon and his old horse Ferdeleh. Zaida's life in the ghetto blends work, humor, and religious study as he reads the Talmud. The humor about covering Mrs. Tannenbaum's steps with horse excrement shows Zaida's stubborn optimism and David's admiration.
When:1920s Where:Montreal ghetto, Zaida's yard and wagon
- 2
A clash of worldviews: Baumgarten and the Messiah
Zaida's friend Mr. Baumgarten embraces Karl Marx to end social injustice, while Zaida counters with a messianic hope for justice. The exchange reveals the era's political and religious tensions inside the community. David watches and absorbs the conflicting ideas.
When:1920s Where:Zaida's home, Montreal ghetto
- 3
Investment pitch and product flaw
Harry pitches his pressless trousers to Zaida, claiming there are many orders and that a $500 investment will pay off in a month. The business partner counters that the trousers have bulges at the knees, undermining the plan. Harry's temper flares as he insults Zaida and jokes about his family, foreshadowing trouble.
When:early 1920s Where:Zaida's home and workshop
- 4
David overhears his father's tirade
David overhears Harry's harsh words about Zaida, Ferdeleh, and the family, which disturbs and shames him. He feels the weight of his father's anger and the fractures within his family. He tells Zaida that his father tells terrible lies to comfort him.
When:same day Where:Home
- 5
A fishing trip that becomes a gambling detour
Harry takes David fishing as a pretext to leave the ghetto, but instead leads him to a gambling club. He speaks vaguely about a different life and a new direction for the family. The venture collapses when orders are canceled and Harry declares bankruptcy, scrapping their plans to move.
When:Sunday afternoon Where:Montreal ghetto and gambling club
- 6
Annie gives birth and David's jealousy
Annie gives birth to David's baby brother, altering the family dynamics. David feels jealous of the newborn's close attention and the ease of breastfeeding. The household mood shifts as new responsibilities emerge.
When:shortly after birth Where:Home
- 7
David's act of rebellious mischief
Feeling disillusioned with adults, David covers Mrs. Tannenbaum's steps with horse excrement, echoing Zaida's earlier joke. The act marks a childish attempt to retaliate against the neighbors and the adult world. It foreshadows the consequences that will follow.
When:later Where:Mrs. Tannenbaum's steps
- 8
Police enforcement and the stables bylaw
Police arrive to enforce bylaws about stables near residences, citing the stable's location as a violation. They give Zaida 30 days to move, threatening his livelihood and daily life. Zaida's refusal to relocate deepens the crisis for the family.
When:shortly after excrement incident Where:Zaida's stable near the family home
- 9
Zaida's illness looms; David sent away
Zaida becomes gravely ill as the bylaw disruption unsettles the family. David is sent to his uncle to avoid spreading the illness and to keep him safe. The care crisis compounds the sense that the adult world promises have failed.
When:within 30 days Where:Zaida's home; uncle's home
- 10
Zaida and Ferdeleh die; news to David
When David returns, Harry tells him that Zaida and Ferdeleh have died, ending the grandfather's presence in his life. The news shatters David's sense of security and trust in the adults around him. He struggles to process the loss while the household prepares for change.
When:after Zaida's death Where:Home
- 11
David's despair and longing for Zaida's return
Distressed, David runs from the home and imagines his grandfather returning to him. The imagined return offers a fragile comfort against the real absence of Zaida. The moment underscores David's vulnerable longing amid a collapsing family world.
When:after Zaida's death Where:Streets and home
Who Are the Main Characters in Lies My Father Told Me?
7 characters, among them David Herman (Jeff Lynas), Harry Herman (Len Birman) and Annie Herman (Marilyn Lightstone): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- DH
David Herman (Jeff Lynas)
Played by Jeff Lynas
A six-year-old boy whose wide-eyed innocence makes him acutely aware of the lies and tensions around him. He admires Zaida and finds solace in their Sunday rides, yet he is deeply affected by the adults’ deceit and conflict. David’s perspective anchors the film’s moral questions about truth, loyalty, and growing up too quickly.
- 👦 Child
- 🧭 Observant
- 🏠 Family-centered
- HH
Harry Herman (Len Birman)
Played by Len Birman
David’s father, a practical yet volatile figure who blindly pursues success. His harsh judgments of Zaida and his readiness to abandon ethical boundaries reveal a man stretched by pride and failing plans. Harry’s behavior triggers the central crisis and invites the audience to question what a father should be.
- 🧔 Adult
- 💬 Blunt
- 💸 Financial strain
- AH
Annie Herman (Marilyn Lightstone)
Played by Marilyn Lightstone
David’s mother, a steady, caring presence who endures the family’s hardships and childbirth with quiet resilience. She embodies the emotional center of the home, balancing economic anxiety with protective love for her children and husband. Annie’s role underscores the strength found in maternal care amid chaos.
- 👩 Parent
- 💪 Resilient
- 🫶 Family support
- Z(
Zaida (Yossi Yadin)
Played by Yossi Yadin
David’s grandfather, a rag-and-bone man who rides a horse and reads the Talmud. Zaida is a source of tradition, humor, and quiet wisdom, contrasting with the economic pragmatism around him. His illness and death mark a poignant turning point that tests the family’s unity and David’s sense of security.
- 🧓 Grandfather
- 🕍 Faithful
- 🧭 Wisdom
- MB
Mr. Baumgarten (Ted Allan)
Played by Ted Allan
Zaida’s friend who embraces the ideas of Karl Marx as a way to end social class injustice. He represents a different path toward social change and offers a contrast to Zaida’s more faith-based outlook. His presence situates the film within broader debates about equity and community
- 👨🏫 Intellectual
- 🧭 Reformist
- 💭 Ideology
- MT
Mrs. Tannenbaum (Barbara Chilcott)
Played by Barbara Chilcott
The nosy neighbor who complains about the horse’s smell and intrudes on the family’s life. Her reactions embody the social pressures and judgments that weigh on a tightly knit, working-class community. Her presence highlights the everyday friction that can escalate into larger conflicts.
- 👵 Neighbor
- 🗯️ Gossip
- 🧼 Social pressure
- UB
Uncle Benny (Henry Gamer)
Played by Henry Gamer
David’s uncle, a familial presence who becomes a caretaker figure when Zaida falls ill. His involvement signals the importance of extended family in times of crisis and helps anchor David’s sense of belonging beyond his immediate home.
- 👨👦 Relative
- 🤝 Support
- 🧷 Family safety
Where and When Is Lies My Father Told Me Set?
Lies My Father Told Me is set in Montreal and Canada (Jewish ghetto) (1920s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1920s
The film is set in the 1920s, a period of postwar adjustment and urban immigrant life. Families wrestle with poverty, limited opportunities, and the pressures of maintaining tradition within a changing society. The era anchors the characters’ hopes, disappointments, and the social tensions that drive the plot.
Where
Montreal, Canada (Jewish ghetto)
The story unfolds in a tightly knit Jewish immigrant enclave of Montreal in the 1920s, where tenement-like homes and horse-drawn carts set the everyday rhythm. Zaida’s rag-and-bone business operates on the edge of the family’s doorstep, a small beacon of livelihood amid hardship. The neighborhood’s dynamics—neighbors, small businesses, and religious routines—shape the world David inhabits.
- 🗺️ Montreal
- 🕍 Jewish community
- 🏚️ Immigrant neighborhood
- 🚶♂️ Street life
What Are the Themes of Lies My Father Told Me?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Truth vs Lies, Family and Poverty and Survival.
-
01
Truth vs Lies
David’s world is derailed when he overhears his father’s hostile accusations and the “terrible lies” spoken about family. The film traces how adults distort reality for personal gain, leaving the child to sift through conflicting stories. Honesty becomes a fragile ideal as economic pressures and pride push characters toward deception and rationalization.
-
02
Family
Generational tensions strain the family unit: Zaida’s old-world wisdom clashes with Harry’s pragmatic yet volatile ambitions, while Annie anchors the family with care. David’s reverence for Zaida contrasts with his father’s anger, highlighting the fragility and resilience of family bonds under pressure. The narrative centers on what a child learns about love, responsibility, and loyalty from the adults around him.
-
03
Poverty and Survival
Set in a working-class ghetto, the story highlights how money—and its absence—shapes every decision. Harry’s failed business and the looming bankruptcy push the family toward instability, while Zaida’s stable life on the edge of legality underscores precarious livelihoods. Small acts of ingenuity and stubborn perseverance illuminate a community’s struggle to stay afloat.
What Kind of Film Is Lies My Father Told Me?
Melancholic in tone, with slow pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Slow
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Sad
A quietly melancholic and nostalgic film seen through the eyes of a child, where tender moments with a beloved grandfather are shadowed by family strife and the profound grief of loss.
- nostalgic
- heartfelt
- melancholic
- quiet
- childlike wonder
- family tension
- coming of age
- family dynamics
- grandparent-child bond
- loss of innocence
Content notes: death of a loved one, animal death.
Quiz
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