Little White Lies [DVD]

I’ve watched “Little White Lies” a handful of times since I first saw it in 2014, but hadn’t seen in for a few months until I watched it again last night. I think it’s an excellent film anyway, but one of the things that I’d forgotten about it, that is so good, was the music. Over the opening credits the very lively “Are You Going to be My Girl?” by Jet can be heard, but if Jet aren’t for you then there might still be something or someone that you like to listen to as there is an eclectic mix of music to the soundtrack of the film, with music from The Isley Brothers (possibly the best Motown song ever – “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Week for You)), Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band, Bonnie Tyler and Janis Joplin as well as others.As well as great music, the scenery where most of the film is set looks fantastic. The story (and directing) from Guillaume Canet are excellent as is his choice of cast, and it’s a fairly large cast of “central” characters as the film isn’t a one ore two main characters type of film, and although it concentrates on some characters more than others, the story is about a whole group of friends and their relationships within and outside of the group.It’s not a typically formulated film – it’s longish (two-and-a-half hours) and a slowish film. It has grown on me a bit more each time I’ve watched it and I’d say that once (or if) you can get into the characters in “Little White Lies” then the film as a whole can be very rewarding. Returning to the music aspect of it, “Little White Lies” plays out with a familiar song sung by someone famous (though not the original hit) and I find the end of “Little White Lies” stays with me for a long time after it has finished – it’s a superb use of the song at the end, and a superb film.On the DVD (Amazon ASIN: B004SH5QBE) you get:“Little White Lies” (2 hours 28 minutes)Scene SelectionExtra Features: “Making Of” (25 minutes), “Gag Reel” (6 minutes)The main film and the Extra Features all have optional English Subtitles.

There have been a number of British and American films about a reunion of friends to spend time together, where all the rubbish comes out and this film does not contribute anything to the 'genre'. As in many of these films, there is not one character that you really care about, not even the one by the likeable Marion Cotillard.The worst bit is the film director thinking he had to play every single American song he likes in order to create a mood in every single scene!Even the bit about one of them dying is very predictable. It is clearly intended to take the drama to a climax where they chop the onions in order to make you cry. I did not buy it.Put this film at the back of the queue.

This truly remarkable film from the much celebrated director, Guillaume Canet is an acerbic look at the quite uniquely excessive, and therefore a bit irritating, love life of the French. While it is a highly compelling and bittersweet comedy of manners, what appeals to me most about the movie is that it is an emotional rollercoaster which cleverly and seamlessly balances tragedy with the joys of youthful life.The opening sequence is so brilliantly realised that the viewer is subjected to a suspenseful sense of an impending disaster soon after the main titles fade out. There begins the uneasy, first chapter of the film, wherein the most likely reaction of the viewer to the increasingly self-obsessed and excessive antics of this closely-knit group of fast-maturing friends would be irritation, if not derision. However, as the story develops to unravel the true character of the individuals and the underlying reasons for their erratic behaviour, you begin to sympathise with them, to the extend that fond memories of your past relationships appear to synchronise with the viewing experience.‘Little White Lies’ is so well conceived and executed that when it ends a sense of longing, similar to that of departing your best friends after a memorable time together, creeps into the mind as if by magic.Characterisations and performance of the film are plausible and astounding, and the whole thing just comes together like a dream. Without any doubt, this is European cinema at its most appealing.BrownPolarOctober 2011

I watch quite a few French films, as the stories are usually very good and often re-made into American versions. I didn't really like this one, it did not hold my attention. It is the story of friends who go on holiday with each other to one friend's home near the beach each year. A terrible accident befalls one of the group of friends before the annual holiday together, the guy who owns the beach house loses the plot and tries to kill the weasels that are hanging out in his house, probably the only part of the story I liked. There is alot of soul searching, which happens in French films sometimes, as the friends still around and analysis their relationships, etc. Not worth buying.

This film called "Les petits mouchoirs" in French if you are looking for it's translation has already had plenty of positive reviews . I just wanted to add a thank you to Amazon for having the film in French with English subtitles. I'm not sure it says that in the information but it definately is in French. Great film of course.

The movie throws the viewer into a 2015 contemporary pub-party upheaval, followed by a quiet ride through the city on a motor scooter. Suddenly! +*! and his friends come together to bewail his accident.Life, it seems so easy to pretend who you are especially when it is all readily accepted by the friends. All pretend and all make little cover ups. Their (our?) society becomes like the babble misunderstandings of Babylon just before its collapse.Instead, life must be lived and accepted as is, not like projecting an unreal shadow theatre.Glued to the screen to follow what they are going to do with their life now.Yet there comes a near clearance at the end. What next?Such good movies I only see from the French.