Launceston Film Society

M (Moderate coarse language)

Forbidden Lie$ is simply a better (cinematic) version of Norma Khouri’s book Forbidden Love, and THAT was a best-seller.

The film’s subject is Norma Khoury, a Jordanian woman who found fame and fortune in 2001 with the publication of her book Forbidden Love, a biographical story of sorts concerning a Muslim friend of hers who was murdered by her family for having a relationship with a Christian man.

Director Anna Broinowski has found a truly fascinating woman to study, and she conducts endless interviews with Khoury as she seeks the truth. As always in life, the truth is not so easy to find. Norma fears for her life, worried about violent backlash over the unsavoury portrait her novel paints of Jordanian Muslims. She refuses to return to Jordan and show us the facts. Broinowski is not deterred however, and slowly puts the pieces together in front of us.

The result is an incredible look inside the mind of a con artist. Naturally, what we find there makes little sense and is extremely difficult to follow, and ultimately we don’t know whether to believe Norma or not. She’s either a rather unfairly put-upon woman trying to survive or a fantastic spinster. The web of lies, truths and half-truths she turns through the film is brilliant.

Origin: Australia 2007
Director: Anna Broinowski
Cast: Norma Khouri (as herself), Linda Mutawi
Running time: 108 mins
Source/s: IMDB, http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au.
Complied by: Sue Aylett

Rated R (Strong brutal and bloody violence, some graphic sexuality, language and nudity)

The film follows the mysterious and ruthless Nikolai, who is tied to one of London’s most notorious organized crime families. His carefully maintained existence is jarred when he crosses paths with Anna, an innocent midwife trying to right a wrong, who accidentally uncovers potential evidence against the family.

Now Nikolai must put into motion a harrowing chain of murder, deceit, and retribution.


Origin: Canada 2007
Director: David Cronenberg
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl
Running Time: 100 minutes
Source: IMDB, OFLC
Compiled by: Mark Horner

Come along after the films this week have a nibble and drink and tell us what you liked from the first half of this year.

Put green dots on the films you liked best, and black dots on those we might have left out (only if you actually watched it all).

Riverview Hotel - cnr Charles and William Sts (opp. Harvey Norman) immediately after our screenings this week.