The Good Lie (2014)

September 10, 2014 (IN) • Drama • 110m

Overview

A young refugee of the Sudanese Civil War who wins a lottery for relocation to the United States with three other lost boys. Encountering the modern world for the first time, they develop an unlikely friendship with a brash American woman assigned to help them, but the young man struggles to adjust to this new life and his feelings of guilt about the brother he left behind.

Director

Philippe Falardeau

Writer

Margaret Nagle

Top Billed

Reese Witherspoon

Keywords

refugee kansas, usa sudanese

Where to watch

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Reese Witherspoon

Carrie Davis

Corey Stoll

Jack

Arnold Oceng

Mamere

Ger Duany

Jeremiah

Thad Luckinbill

Matt

Afemo Omilami

Dr. Monyang

Sarah Baker

Pamela Lowi

Joshua Mikel

Dave

Mike Pniewski

Nick Costas

Lindsey Garrett

Jenny

Emmanuel Jal

Paul

Kuoth Wiel

Abital

Femi Oguns

Theo

Maria Howell

INS Agent

Peterdeng Mongok

Young Mamere

Okwar Jale

Young Theo

Thon Kueth

Young Jeremiah

Deng Ajuet

Young Paul

Keji Jale

Young Abital

David Madingi

Young Gabriel

Kon Akoue Auok

Young Daniel

Sibusisu Moyo

Young Simon

Antoine Wonder Kalambay

Boy (River of Children)

Elikana Jale

James

Michael H. Cole

Reverend Trutner

Brian Kurlander

Frank

Jimi Kocina

Karl

Vince Pisani

INS Boston

Kimberly Banta

INS Kansas City

Travis Smith

Roger

Sharon Conley

Erin Sullivan

Raj Kala

Man in English Class

Parisa Johnston

Sari Woman in English Class

Heather Lyda

Homeless Woman

Clifton Guterman

INS Clerk

Kenny Alfonso

Police Officer

Victor McCay

Reed

Jacob Kuol Alier

Fargo Boy

Berglind Jonsdottir

Swedish Official

Dhan Kueth

Majok

Israel Makoe

Bracelet Soldier

Keith Woulard

Soldier

John Prendergast

Toby

Tiffany Jones

Refugee Worker

Nathaniel Ramabulana

U.N. Worker

Lavine Dimo

Guinea Worm Girl

Julia Ayiol

Village Mother

Sope Aluko

Processing Office Woman

Suehyla El-Attar Young

Immigration Official

Abena Ayivor

Immigration Official #2

Levi Burdick

INS Official

Lele Ledwaba

Food Worker

Mari Malek

Party Guest

Flora Peter Deng

Abital's Mother

Cara Mantella

Becky

Richard Saxton

Professor (uncredited)

Ravi Naidu

Professor (uncredited)

Crew

Philippe Falardeau

Director

Margaret Nagle

Screenplay

Brian Grazer

Producer

Ron Howard

Producer

Karen Kehela Sherwood

Producer

Thad Luckinbill

Producer

Molly Smith

Producer

Ronald Plante

Director of Photography

Keith Woulard

Stunt Coordinator

Eugene Collier

Stunt Double

Jay Pearson

Stunt Double

Aby Martin

Stunts

Genevieve Hofmeyr

Producer

Broderick Johnson

Executive Producer

Andrew A. Kosove

Executive Producer

Trent Luckinbill

Producer

Emma McGill

Associate Producer

Deepak Nayar

Executive Producer

Deborah Jelin Newmyer

Executive Producer

Robert Newmyer

Executive Producer

Kim Roth

Executive Producer

Ellen H. Schwartz

Executive Producer

Jim Shamoon

Line Producer

Jeffrey Silver

Co-Producer

Lynne-Anne Vosloo

Line Producer

Mario Zvan

Executive Producer

Richard Comeau

Editor

Mindy Marin

Casting

Aaron Osborne

Production Design

Erin Cochran

Art Direction

Melinda Launspach

Set Decoration

Melinda Sanders

Set Decoration

Suttirat Anne Larlarb

Costume Design

Martin Léon

Original Music Composer

Reviews

Reno

⭐ 9/10

April 8, 2015

Migration is the part of life for birds and animals for millions of years. For the different season, to be in the different places, away from harsh nature is to comforts from any severeness. Still happening in greater number everywhere except humans who thought enough is enough, let's stay and face the challenges. Wow, that's awesome, the civilization was born. So those who stayed in the different places, formed different race, different culture and language with borders around. All kinds of people (religious) have to live together, if something goes wrong between them, the weaker must retreat, but to where?

I have to mention all these, because to remind ourselves how far we'd come. Today to travel to another continent you've to pass so many formalities like visa, passport, security check, background check, check-up for latest fast spreading disease, body scans for smuggling, purpose of visit etc. It is better to turn into a bird and fly away than going through all this. That's why I am not a nationalist and call myself the citizen of planet Earth, which put me on debate with guys around on the several occasions.

Okay. The movie was inspired by 'Lost Boys of Sudan'. The true story of four young Sudanese, after their elders were killed in the attack of their village they team up to escape. Henceforth living in the refugee camp in Kenya, looking for an opportunity for a better life. It lands, but struggle continues as to adapt the new place and finding the right employment. The journey from nowhere to the land of dream, but they had no dream at all, all they wanted was a normal life anywhere peacefully. On the other end, the rules and regulations begin to haunt them, which they were not used to it.

> ‘‘We found strength in sticking together
> But our hope of ever leaving was fading.’’

Definitely an inspiring story. For the meaning of the title, you have to wait until the last minute. Because all the great stories told in the history began or ends with the great sacrifice. That was a touching scene, I just imagined, in reality, how tough it would have been. You probably don't understand what I'm saying, but I'm trying to keep spoiler away. We had seen the similar theme from another angle in Gerard Butler starer 'Machine Gun Preacher'. Yep, about the same war, but set in a different place. The main difference is this movie is not a heroic tale like that where a white man fights for the innocent Africans. You know there are about 20.000 boys and girls orphaned and displaced during the civil war that lasted for nearly 25 years. The writer had to pick just one from the thousands of stories. So that's how 'The Good Lie' came, a story of complete integrity.

From the filmmaker of Oscar nominated foreign movie 'Monsieur Lazhar'. One of my favourites from Canada. I loved all his previous films, so the expectation for this was same as always. It partially feels like a docudrama, but it was not. Leaping into Hollywood did not change his style of film making. He turned into an American movie in which something lacks today, reality and honesty with dynamic story than its characters. Reese Witherspoon's presence did not affect either, the narration was neutral from the perspective of character preference. In fact, Reese Witherspoon's existence helped to put some familiar face on the posters. Especially for the marketing purpose for the wide release, other than the film festivals. So this movie definitely is to go for it, only if you're not seeking entertainment.

8.5/10

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$20,000,000

Revenue

$3,396,345

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The Good Lie (2014)

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Reviews

Reno

Recommended Movies

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Tears of the Sun

Capernaum

Hotel Rwanda

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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