White Lies (2013 New Zealand film)

White Lies is a story about the nature of identity: those who deny it and those who strive to protect it.[8] Paraiti (Whirimako Black) is a medicine woman. She is the healer and midwife of her rural, tribal people - she believes in life, but new laws prohibit unlicensed healers. On a rare trip to the city, she is approached by Maraea (Rachel House), the servant of a wealthy woman, Rebecca (Antonia Prebble), who seeks her knowledge and assistance to hide a secret that could destroy Rebecca's position in European settler society.[9] If the secret is uncovered, a life may be lost, but hiding it may also have fatal consequences. Paraiti, Maraea and Rebecca thus become players in a head on clash of beliefs, deception and ultimate salvation.[10]

In the extras of the DVD, Witi Ihimaera tells how his mother took him to Paraiti, a tohunga/healer who cured him of a breathing problem. In writing the story, he wanted to honour the various tohunga in Māori life. In 1907, the New Zealand government passed the Tohunga Suppression Act to outlaw natural healing for Māori.

Some people believe the author of the book drew on the life of Anglo-Indian actress Merle Oberon and the hiding of her true ethnic origin.

• Whirimako Black as Paraiti
• Rachel House as Maraea
• Antonia Prebble as Rebecca
• Nancy Brunning as Horiana
• Te Waimarie Kessell as Aroha
• Kohuorangi Ta Whara as Wirepa
• Elizabeth Hawthorne as Hospital Matron
• Te Ahurei Rakuraku as young Paraiti
• Tahuri o te Rangi Trainor Tait as Paraiti's Grandfather
• Kyle Pryor as Soldier
• Rawiri Waiariki as Horiana's Grandchild
• Te Whenua Te Kurapa as Pirimahana
• Tangiroa Tawhara as Woman with Bad Leg
• Vanessa Paraki as Limping Girl
• Phil Peleton as Chemist

The screenplay for the film was adapted from Witi Ihimaera's 2007 novella 'Medicine Woman', found in the collection Ask The Posts of the House.[11] The screenwriter and director of the film, Dana Rotberg, has described the novella as "a perfect piece of storytelling", which "contained complexity, was generous in its understanding of human drama and had a delightful sense of humour."[12] Describing her inspiration to adapt the novella, Rotberg wrote: "The story would not leave my mind. It kept visiting me while I was driving on the motorway, when falling asleep, while cooking … Paraiti, the medicine woman, was a stubborn presence who refused to leave and I became haunted by her."[12]

The New York Times has described the film as a "quiet tale of cultural oppression" that is "infused with slow tension."[13] Webster praises the leading female actresses for their formidable performances, describing them as "well-matched opponents" and highlighting the strength of Ms. Black's debut on-screen performance.[14] The New Zealand Herald has commended the film’s female-driven storyline, noting the absence of any significant male characters.[15]

• List of submissions to the 86th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
• List of New Zealand submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film

[16] [17] [18]

• White Lies at IMDb