Channel Four Films
CiBy 2000
Film4 Productions
Thin Man Films
Not part of a collection.
Secrets & Lies
Roxanne drives her mother crazy. Maurice never speaks to his niece. Cynthia has a shock for her family. Monica can't talk to her husband. Hortense has never met her mother.
After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black optometrist, seeks out her birth mother. She's shocked when her research leads her to Cynthia, a working class white woman.
- Original title
- Secrets & Lies
- Language
- EN
- Country
- GB
- Budget
- $4,500,000
- Revenue
- $13,417,292
CinemaSerf
Dec 26, 2025 · via TMDB
I reckon the fact that so many nations put this on their awards radar must suggest a lot of resonance with families, not just in Britain, who are having to come to terms with a myriad of contentious circumstances as they try to live day to day. This centres around the drink-loving “Cynthia” (Brenda Blethyn) who lives with a daughter “Roxanne” (Claire Rushbrook) who has a lively rapport with her boyfriend “Paul” (Lee Ross). Then she gets a phone call from a woman calling herself “Elizabeth”. No, not her dead mum but her long-since adopted daughter. Yep, it’s that brutal. Not surprisingly, “Cynthia” is a bit distraught by this news but agrees to meet this woman, a black lady called “Hortense” (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), at a London tube station. Now the latter woman knows of the colour difference, but the former doesn’t and so gets another of what are going to be quite a few shocks as they meet and begin to explore the potential for a relationship. Meantime, her photographer brother “Maurice” (Timothy Spall) and wife “Monica” (Phyllis Logan) are having problems of their own and as the plot develops we begin to appreciate more why the film is called “Secrets and Lies”. It might be a testament to both Blethyn and Baptiste’s performances here, but boy did I dislike both of their characters. The former could whine for her country; a smouldering maelstrom of self-pity all too frequently soaked in booze whilst the latter’s introduction technique to her new-found mother was borderline cruel and oozed a sense of selfish entitlement that really put me off. Thereafter, the story does contrive to ensure that just about every element that could cause dysfunction and depression is on display and believe it or not, the revelation of a thirty-something baby isn’t necessary the most shocking. It’s bleak, but there is some very dark humour here and occasionally even some semblance of hope as their family heads for it’s expected denouement. The photography gives it an observational intensity that at times is potent, at others intrusive, but always it is effective at immersing us in their misery. Did I enjoy this? well, no I didn’t. It is, however, quite a compelling exposé of the toxicity of relationships that drift along untended with heads in the sand and so much meaningfully unspoken and the entirely convincing Blethyn puts her heart and soul into it.
griggs79
Dec 2, 2024 · via TMDB
_Secrets & Lies_ is a compelling film that delves into the themes of family, identity, and the profound impact of shame on relationships. It skillfully intertwines raw emotion with a sense of honesty that reverberates throughout the narrative. The performances are remarkably authentic, fostering a strong connection with the characters and their struggles with their own secrets. The dialogue feels genuine and relatable, capturing how people talk, which adds to the film's authenticity. Each moment unfolds in a way that feels true to life, drawing you into the narrative and prompting you to reflect on your own experiences and relationships. Ultimately, _Secrets & Lies_ is a deeply moving film that prompts you to contemplate your own family dynamics. It challenges viewers to reconsider the impact of shame on personal and familial relationships, and the unspoken truths we often carry.
Filipe Manuel Neto
May 20, 2023 · via TMDB
**A good work, currently forgotten.** Just when I think I've seen all sorts of movies about racism, issues of race or prejudice, there's something new that comes out of nowhere, or some meritorious, well-made effort that's worth seeing. This film, initially, seemed to me just a sweet and average drama in which a black woman, very successful, decides to discover the identity of her biological mother and discovers that she is white, and the difficulties and dramas of her family. It was nominated for six Oscars, losing them one by one, but without any demerits. Observing the film very closely, we can easily verify that it is not a visual or effects spectacle. On a technical level, it's a lukewarm, not to say uninteresting, uninteresting film. Even the soundtrack, which is usually a technical device that even the most regular movies tend to improve on, is pretty forgettable. Where the film really scores favorably is with regard to the script and direction. It's not a flashy movie, with a complicated or far-fetched story. Things are simple, direct and solid, and the story told is credible, effective. The script, which does not come from the North American milieu in which ethnicity, skin color and financial position seem inseparable, works well with these elements and puts in counterpoint the differences, quite strong, between the mother and the daughter, allowing the public to glimpse the intimacy of those lives. Mike Leigh is a solid director who gives us consistent and remarkable work, visible in a particular care with details, cinematography and work with the actors. And, in fact, the work of the actors is equally remarkable here: Brenda Blethyn gives us one of the most anthological works of his career, the same can be said of Timothy Spall. Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who could and should have more protagonism and attention, is not so lucky and goes much more unnoticed.
Peter McGinn
Aug 23, 2020 · via TMDB
If I ever get around to drawing up a list of my top 25 favorite non-blockbuster movies, Secrets and Lies would roll in very near the top. I have watched it a few times and expect I will continue to do so periodically. The acting is phenomenal. It is an ensemble cast, for sure, no superstars, but three of the main actors: Timothy Spall, Brenda Blethyn and Claire Rushbrook, are among the best that Great Britain has produced. What I first saw this film, it was literally the first time I had seen those three perform, and I quickly learned to seek them out in other projects. I believe the movie won the top award at the Cannes festival, and Brenda Blethyn won a deserved Academy Oscar award. The story is a powerful one, and allows for emotional growth in a few of the characters. A few Mike Leigh movies share more than just his favorite repeat performers: they also include a big emotional reveal at the end that really pack a wallop. This movie, Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle, and All or Nothing share that element. I have read that Leigh makes his cast aware of the story but allows them leeway in improvised dialogue, sometimes when he surprises them during filming, but I haven’t studied his technique in any detail. I could go on and on about this favorite movie of mine, but I wouldn’t want to risk diminishing the impact for anyone who hasn’t seen the movie yet. Just watch and enjoy.
CRCulver
May 27, 2018 · via TMDB
SECRETS AND LIES is a 1996 film by Mike Leigh that, appropriately enough, is concerned with the things that members of a family conceal from each other. Hortense (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a black woman in London who has made a successful career as an optician, knew from a young age that she was adopted, but only after her adopted mother's death does she decide to look up her birth mother. Hortense is shocked to find that it is Cynthia (Brenda Blethyn), not just white but living in near-poverty and wallowing in regret. Cynthia has a tumultuous relationship with her acknowledged daughter Roxanne (Claire Rushbrook), who she fears to be repeating her own youthful mistakes. Cynthia also finds its hard to relate to her brother Maurice (Timothy Spall) and his cold wife Monica (Phyllis Logan), who have done well from a photo shop business. Hortense's entry into this family ultimately shatters their miserable status quo, but not without some heartbreak on the way. At this point in his career, Mike Leigh had perfected a filmmaking technique by which he had his actors live out their roles in everyday situations in the street for weeks before he started shooting. Consequently, by the time these actors were captured on film, they are totally convincing as their characters, and the characters are fleshed out through the little details that Leigh allowed to bring to them in improvising. The viewer feels that he knows these people deeply. Leigh also has a way of mixing pathos and humour. He not only will insert a comedic shot after a poignant one, but he'll then present ambiguous images where the viewer is unsure whether he should laugh or cry. While the acting and that dash of humour is quite powerful, there are elements that hold me back from universally praising this film. I've never been impressed by Leigh's use of music, which feels cheap, and only one shot (a deftly timed outdoor barbecue) was truly impressive in its mis-en-scène. And I find Leigh's previous film Naked a slightly more successful application of his art. Still, the acting in SECRETS AND LIES is really something, and I would generally recommend this film.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
HBO Max Amazon Channel
YouTube TV
Criterion Channel
HBO Max
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At Home
Brenda Blethyn
Cynthia Rose Purley
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Hortense Cumberbatch
Timothy Spall
Maurice Purley
Phyllis Logan
Monica Purley
Claire Rushbrook
Roxanne Purley
Lee Ross
Paul
Lesley Manville
The Social Worker
Elizabeth Berrington
Jane
Michele Austin
Dionne
Ron Cook
Stuart
Trevor Laird
Hortense's Brother
Brian Bovell
Hortense's Brother
Emma Amos
Girl with Scar
Clare Perkins
Hortense's Sister in Law
Janice Acquah
Junior Optician
Terence Harvey
First Bride's Father
Grant Masters
Best Man
Lucy Sheen
Nurse
Frances Ruffelle
Young Mother
Nitin Ganatra
Potential Suitor
David Neilson
Man in Suit
Paul Trussell
Grinning Husband
Jonny Coyne
Fiance
Peter Wight
Father in Family Group
Gary McDonald
Boxer
Alison Steadman
Woman with Dog
Liz Smith
Woman with Cat
Sheila Kelley
Fertile Mother
Angela Curran
Little Boy's Mother
Linda Beckett
Pin Up Housewife
Phil Davis
Man in Suit
Wendy Nottingham
Glum Woman
Anthony O'Donnell
Uneasy Man
Ruth Sheen
Laughing Woman
Mia Soteriou
Fiancee
Stephen Churchett
Man in Suit
Eve Stewart
Art Direction
Alison Chitty
Production Design
Mike Leigh
Director
Simon Channing Williams
Producer
Georgina Lowe
Production Supervisor
Mike Leigh
Writer
Porté disparu
Fetus
12 Angry Men
London's Burning: The Movie
Forrest Gump
The Silence of the Lambs
Ikiru
Gladiator
Tokyo Story
The Seventh Seal
8½
Wild Strawberries
The World of Apu
La Haine
All About Eve
The Elephant Man
Children of Paradise
La Dolce Vita
American Beauty
Rome, Open City
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Barry Lyndon
Chungking Express
Spirited Away: Live on Stage
Citizen Kane
Before Sunrise
Sanjuro
La Strada
Throne of Blood
The Virgin Spring
The Battle of Algiers
Fail Safe
Dancer in the Dark
Before Sunset
Anatomy of a Murder
Into the Wild
Through a Glass Darkly
Le Samouraï
Day for Night
Fanny and Alexander
The Celebration
October Sky
A Moon in the Ordinary
The Young Girls of Rochefort
Cléo from 5 to 7
Amores Perros
The Man from Earth
All About My Mother
Mildred Pierce
Orpheus
Le Cercle Rouge
Cinderella Man
Malcolm X
Au Revoir les Enfants
Lady Snowblood
Custody
Badlands
Being John Malkovich
Live and Become
Sense and Sensibility
Kolya
Last Year at Marienbad
Scrooge
Kes
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Repulsion
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx
CJ7
Dead Man Walking
We Shall Overcome
Pierrot le Fou
Becoming Jane
Like Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes
Green Street Hooligans
The Piano Teacher
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Short Cuts
Secret Sunshine
The Wedding Banquet
Rosetta
Thief
Withnail & I
After Life
An Inspector Calls
Boiling Point
Our Mother's House
Real Steel
Following
Dear Frankie
Welcome to the Dollhouse
Life as a House
The Child
Mohabbatein
Flywheel
INT. CAFÉ – NIGHT
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Ronia: The Robber's Daughter
Chocolat
My Own Private Idaho
Indochine
Oliver!
A Guy Could Change
The Class
The Unloved Woman
Brothers
Orlando
Coffee and Cigarettes
Death at a Funeral
Grbavica: The Land of My Dreams
A Christmas Carol
Dirty Pretty Things
The Bank Job
Shakespeare in Love
Carla's Song
The Flower of My Secret
Netto
A Tale of Two Cities
A Real Pain
The Good Son
Jack & Sarah
Flawless
Sleepless in Seattle
Marie Antoinette
The Tree of Life
Bottle Rocket
Bride Flight
London River
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Tuck Everlasting
Russian Dolls
2 or 3 Things I Know About Him
Mississippi Mermaid
Linha de Passe
If the Father and the Son
The Emerald Forest
Alias
Burnt
Golden Door
Bambi II
Clapham Junction
The Secret Heart
Roller Coaster
Why Did I Get Married?
Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead
Teheran '43
What Lies Beneath
Hearth Fires
Smilla's Sense of Snow
Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!
Up Close & Personal
A Moonless Night
Shed Skin Papa
Kidulthood
Popular Music
Entrapment
Adoption
Gemma Bovery
Well Kept Secrets: Athanasia
Wenn der Vater mit dem Sohne
After School
My Life Without Me
Sounds of Sand
Spanglish
Dirty War
Double Lover
Bate Coração
7 Virgins
Franklyn
Stonewall
Little Indian, Big City
Georgia Rule
Earth and Ashes
Adrift
Beloved
B. Monkey
Vanity Fair
Odette Toulemonde
Then She Found Me
9 Songs
Light of Day
How to Deal
Moonlight Warrior
Found.
The Broken
Hamlet
Home Alone da Riber
A Real Young Girl
The Next Best Thing
Iron & Blood: The Legend of Taras Bulba
My Magic
Omelettes With Spinach
Peaches
Welcome Home, Bobby
Shem
Melissa P.
Sex, Party and Lies
The Boarder
London Love Story 2
The Deciding Kiss
Yellow Fever
I Turn to You
A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
Kowsar
French Story
Express
I Can Only Imagine 2
A Dog's Journey
Lion
Short Term 12
I Am Sam
Boyhood
Mr. Church
Philomena
Finding Neverland
The Hours
The Old Oak
FX's A Christmas Carol
Ladybird Ladybird
The Long Day Closes
Boy A
What Maisie Knew
The Glass Castle
A Taste of Honey
Creed III
White Oleander
The Champ
The Color Purple
A Home of Our Own
Oliver Twist
Second Best
A Christmas Gift from Bob
London River
The Deep End of the Ocean
Rocks
Losing Isaiah
Evelyn
Skin
Mommie Dearest
The Boys Are Back
The Secret Garden
Sweetness in the Belly
Oliver Twist
Sep 27, 1996
Oct 10, 1996
Chicago International Film Festival
Feb 20, 1997
Apr 15, 1997
VHS
Jun 11, 1997
LaserDisc
Feb 1, 2005
DVD
Mar 30, 2021
The Criterion Collection Blu-ray
Jan 21, 2022
Kanopy
