Miriam Lies

Sunday 14 October, Cinema 1, 8:45pm

 

Preparing to celebrate her 15th birthday – a major event in Latin America – Miriam was meant to invite her online boyfriend Jean-Louis. But on discovering he is black and with everyone believing he is the son of a French diplomat, she is drawn into a web of lies. Miriam’s mixed-race character underpins an inherent racism within the Dominican Republic, where she is constantly reminded of her second-class status. Directing duo Natalia Cabral and Oriol Estrada have produced a captivating tale that conveys the suffocating atmosphere of a society where girls have to conform to impossible aesthetic standards in their dutiful search for a partner. A delicate film featuring compelling performances from its young cast, Miriam Lies intelligently explores both teenage insecurities and the emotional ties that bind them.