Secrets & Lies (1996)

About Secrets & Lies

'Secrets & Lies' is a drama film released in 1996, written and directed by Mike Leigh. The story revolves around a successful black woman (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) who discovers her birth mother is a lower-class white woman (Brenda Blethyn), but the woman denies it. As they gets to know each other, many secrets and lies are revealed.

Making / Production

The film contains many of Leigh's signature elements, such as intricate character development and raw, emotionally charged performances. Leigh used improvisation techniques during rehearsals and relied on the instincts and choices of his actors to shape the plot dynamics.

Actors

• Brenda Blethyn (Cynthia Purley): Played a working-class woman grappling with her past choices and discrimination in 1970s Britain.
• Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hortense Cumberbatch): Played the role of a successful, black optometrist who discovers her birth mother is white.
• Timothy Spall (Maurice Purley): Cynthia's brother who is a portrait photographer and serves as an emotional pillar in the family.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or in the 1996 Cannes Film Festival where it won three awards, including the Best Actress for Brenda Blethyn.
• The film was reportedly made on a budget of around £4.5 million.
• Brenda Blethyn had to learn sign language for the film.

Awards

The film received numerous accolades and awards, including five Academy Award nominations and three awards at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. Furthermore, Brenda Blethyn won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Festival and the Golden Globe Awards, and was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance.

Quotes

• "Secrets and lies! We're all in pain! Why can't we share our pain?"
• "I've been trying to find you since I was 7."
• "You've got no idea what I've been through to get here."

Music, Soundtrack

• Music was composed by Andrew Dickson, a regular collaborator with Mike Leigh.
• The original soundtrack does not rely on popular music but invokes strong emotional responses using ambient tracks.
• The soundtrack was released under October Films and Polygram Film and TV Licensing on April 9, 1997.