User Reviews

The Lies We Tell Ourselves is not your traditional film based on a linear narrative or plot. This motion picture challenges the constraints of cinema and the process of filmmaking, addressing the difficulty many directors face when trying to produce a film. Saara Lamberg adds a strange and peculiar twist to this mockumentary about filmmaking. Lamberg stars as herself in this film, exploring the world of filmmaking, but she adds random deviations from the "central story".

There are moments of voiceovers from reviewers about the film, title cards with messages from the director to the audience, and arbitrary scenes that don't necessarily add to the story, much like a Brecht-style performance. For such an eccentric film, these diversions work in some cases but fall flat in others. For instance, there was a therapy scene where Saara interacted with a psychologist, who did aimless exercises to "help" Saara, and they were beyond bizarre. Still, the scene added comedy and forced viewers to think about the difficulties even directors experience. Society holds directors on a high podium, but this film brings to light some raw experiences directors face. Alternatively, this unpredictability diminished the effectiveness and understanding of this film. A scene with Lamberg crawling across what seems to be an attic, drinking wine and repeating questions over and over interrupted the main narrative, pulling the viewer away from the central storyline. It was an unexpected scene, invading the progressing narrative and leaving me confused as to why it was included and what it did to benefit the film.

One clear component of this story that both the audience and the director can agree upon is that they don't know what this film is. Whether that is an attraction or an aversion, there is no question that this film is as authentic as they come. As explained in the film, this motion picture is being written as it is filmed, and there is a uniqueness to that which most motion pictures don't pursue. Lamberg's exploration of the film industry challenges the questions of 'What is art?' and 'What makes a good film?' It was entertaining to think about these questions throughout the film and have Lamberg remind us of these topics ever so often.

Atop the film's delving into filmmaking, certain aspects detracted from this complicated film. Lamberg imposed countless voiceovers as the director discussing her film, and this complimented the questions asked, the storyline, and the effectiveness of specific scenes. However, it became too invasive toward the end. It felt as if there was an equal amount of dialogue between characters as there was between the director and the audience, and it deterred the viewer's engagement, stretching out the film's impact the more it did so.

I had to sit with this film for a few days and ponder how Lamberg's film left an impact. Over the course of those few days, this film grew on me with its raw purpose and exposure to filming on a low budget; however, it left me ultimately unfulfilled. It is a strange and complex film with no goals, but it seeks to be inquisitive into your mind and the mind of the director. It is confusing and plotless, but artistic and authentically challenging. The film keeps you guessing, yet there is no predictability or surprise. A truly outré film and a variant within the industry, and as we've learned, variants are not always bad, but they do not always herald satisfaction.