The Good Lie (2014)

A group of Sudanese refugees, given the chance to resettle in the U.S., arrive in Kansas City, Missouri, where their encounter with an employment agency counselor forever changes all of their lives.

Director:

Philippe Falardeau

Writer:

Margaret Nagle

Stars:

Reese Witherspoon, Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Reese Witherspoon	...	Carrie
Arnold Oceng	...	Mamere
Ger Duany	...	Jeremiah
Emmanuel Jal	...	Paul
Corey Stoll	...	Jack
Kuoth Wiel	...	Abital
Femi Oguns	...	Theo
Sarah Baker	...	Pamela
Lindsey Garrett	...	Jenny
Peterdeng Mongok	...	Young Mamere
Okwar Jale	...	Young Theo
Thon Kueth	...	Young Jeremiah
Deng Ajuet	...	Young Paul
Keji Jale	...	Young Abital
David Madingi	...	Young Gabriel

Storyline

Four Sudanese children are orphaned after their village is massacred in the Second Sudanese Civil War. Consequently, they make an arduous and dangerous trek through the plains, enduring hardship, death and sacrifice all the way until they reach safety in a refugee camp in Kenya. Years later, these youths are among 3600 selected for resettlement in America, only to have the one girl among them sent to Boston, while the three boys must to make a new life in Kansas City. Together, these young men must adjust to an alien culture even as the emotional baggage of their past haunts them. However, these newcomers, and their new friends like employment counselor Carrie Davis, strive to understand each other in this new home, as they make peace with their histories in a challenge that will change all their lives.

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Plot Keywords:

kansas city missouri | refugee | refugee camp | kenya | resettlement | 

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Taglines:

Miracles are made by people who refuse to stop believing.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence, brief strong language and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

Kenya India USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 2014 (Kenya)

Also Known As:

A Boa Mentira

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$841,422, 5 October 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,716,989, 2 January 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alcon Entertainment,Black Label Media,Blue Sky Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Emmanuel Jal (Paul) described his real child-soldier atrocities in BBC's Horizon (1964), season forty-five, episode eighteen, "How Violent Are You?"

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Goofs

When the refugees first arrive in Kansas City and mention needing to meet an escort by the baggage claim, they descend an escalator. MCI (Kansas City's primary airport) does not have a lower level baggage claim. The airport is three, single-level terminals all with various baggage claims on the same level.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Title Card: In 1983, a brutal civil war broke out in Sudan between the North and the South over religion and resources, leaving villages destroyed by northern government armies and militia.
Title Card: By 1987, thousands of orphaned children began to flee on foot across sub-Saharan Africa, walking as many as thousands of miles to Ethiopia and then Kenya. Thirteen years later, 3600 refugees would be relocated to the U.S.A. They were known simply as "The Lost Boys of Sudan."
Title Card: This film is inspired by their ...

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Can't Stop the Music (2014)

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Soundtracks

Deck The Halls
Traditional tune, lyrics by Thomas Oliphant (uncredited)
Performed by Lydia Fuzz
Traditional Arrangement by Justin Tapp
Courtesy of Selectracks c/o BMG Rights Management (US) LLC

User Reviews

Oscar worthy?

I was invited to a screening of this movie and wasn't sure what to expect. The only thing I had heard was a bit of Oscar buzz concerning Reese Witherspoon.

I found the movie very interesting and moving, comical at times, yet sad as well. I was moved to tears multiple times at just the thought of what these children to adults had to endure. For her part, I didn't feel that Witherspoon did much in depth acting at all, much less an Oscar worthy performance. The real emotion was depicted by the Sudanese actors. They are the ones who deserve an award.

I was left wanting more, as some parts of the story were not fully told. Overall, a very good movie and worth seeing.