Forbidden Lies
Con or artist? You decide.
Con or artist? You decide.
Documentary
-
2007
Available on
Country
The film meticulously unravels the case of Norma Khouri, whose best-selling memoir about an honor killing captivated the world before her entire story began to collapse under the weight of its own fabrications. More than just a look at a spectacular con, this is a timely and unsettling exploration of media manipulation, cultural differences, and the dangerous power of a compelling narrative. Broinowski’s film is a riveting study of a pathological liar, but it also holds a mirror up to a world eager to embrace a good story, fact or fiction.
Director:
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Details
Rated:
Not Rated
Runtime:
104 min
Release date:
25 Feb 2007
Country:
AU
Languages:
Arabic, English
Budget:
$0
Revenue:
$0
Awards:
4 wins & 2 nominations
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
Even after you've seen Forbidden Lie$, the dizzying, drop-dead fascinating documentary on Norma Khouri, you won't be absolutely sure if she's on the level or a con artist ranked as "one of the best ever." That's how good she is.
– Kenneth Turan,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr 2009
fresh:
Forbidden Lies, a documentary by Anna Broinowski, records, fascinatingly but with far too much slick finesse, Norma's world-class con artistry.
– Peter Rainer,
Christian Science Monitor,
13 Apr 2009
fresh:
Even as Broinowski exposes Khouri's shameful and pathological abuse of such genuine tragedies, the filmmaker may be giving her subject exactly what she wants.
– Andrew O'Hehir,
Salon.com,
9 Apr 2009
fresh:
Cool-headed, lighthearted and outrageously entertaining, Forbidden Lie$ is documentary-as-striptease.
– Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
3 Apr 2009
rotten:
Norma Khouri's book about the honor killing of a Muslim friend, Forbidden Love, was exposed as fake in 2004 -- which makes this doc yesterday's news.
– Anna King,
Time Out New York,
1 Apr 2009