Secrets and Lies

A successful black woman discovers that her biological mother is a poor white woman who rejects her. Emotions run high and secrets come to light. Cynthia lives in London with her grumpy daughter, who is a street sweeper. Her brother is a successful photographer and now lives in a nicer house nearby. But Cynthia has never been invited to visit him. Overall, she feels lonely and isolated. Meanwhile, Hortense, who was adopted at birth and is now an adult, is trying to find her mother in another part of town. SECRETS AND LIES is a powerful family drama by Mike Leigh that won the Palme d'Or at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. Brenda Blethyn also won the award for Best Actress for her moving portrayal of Cynthia. The film was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, and won two BAFTAs for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress. Leigh's direction is characterized by psychological precision, quiet tension, and deep compassion. The press hailed the film as “nothing less than a miracle” (The Guardian) and one of the most moving explorations of identity, heritage, and the power of human connection. Starring Timothy Spall as Maurice, Phyllis Logan as Monica, Brenda Blethyn as Cynthia, Claire Rushbrook as Roxanne, Marianne Jean-Baptiste as Hortense Cumberbatch, and Elizabeth Berrington as Jane.