White Lies

Rating:
Summary: White Lies?
Review: A surprising telefilm from 1999 that ranks as one of the better neo-Nazi dramas out there. Better because of its straight forward and even handed treatment of its controversial subject. It also happens to be very well acted. Sarah (Go) Polley is a Canadian college student who tries to retain her White identity in a global economy of immigrant hordes, affirmative action and secular morality. Angry at the smug counter-morality of Liberals, she eventually falls in with the National Identity Movement, a group that has refined itself to a militia core of White activits and neo-Nazi ideologues commited to taking Canada back by any means necessary. Intelligent and articulate, she's perfectly suited to a high profile position as spokesperson for NIM. However, the violent action from anti-racist activists make it clear that the world White Nationalism is too dangerous for her. So what does she do? Yep, she rejects her ideology and betrays her friends....I smell the contrivance of a pathetic Liberal screenwriter. For this to work, Catherine's choices must be credible and we need to understand what's making her tick. As the film nears its resolution, this becomes increasingly difficult to do. But in the end, White Lies is perhaps second only to Romper Stomper in its honest approach to White activists and their anti-racist enemies.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting TV-type movie
Review: I believe this is loosely based on a girl who tried to distance herself from Canada's Heritage Front in real life. A composite, perhaps, but there's no need to worry that it will be overly realistic. White activism and neo-nazism is too hot to handle--any time you catch a so-called thoughtful analysis like American History X or Romper Stomper, or this film, you know the deck will be stacked against them, ultimately. Still, 'White Lies' deserves credit for showing anti-racists as equally malicious in their fervor, although the perpetrators remain faceless. Many subtle points about the appeal of racial identity are made, and the perverse allure of Nazi regalia and the sharp fashion sense of militants is well-illustrated. While the script is definitely more televison drama than cinematic, the stylistic touches and symbolism are more in the vein of an arthouse film. I found it odd and rather daring that they would portray the token multicultural mouthpiece ('Seth Green') as an irritating, smug, condescending SOB. The terror and violence are not accurately portrayed, and the acting is strictly TV-caliber, but the style is unorthodox enough to weather the inevitable conventionality. You have to be completely uninformed to have your mind blown by this film, but it is definitely interesting. Recommended.