Page 98 - Metropolis Magazine nº99

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A LITTLE WHITE LIE

«A Little White Lie» is a comedy with a touch of light that the film is a comic zig-zag by Shriver in front
drama set in the world of literature and mistaken of his legion of fans and the organisers of the li-
identities. Simone Cleary (Kate Hudson) is a profes- terary festival. The meaning of the writer's crisis
sor who is organising a renowned literary festival takes on a very funny meaning as he tries not to
that is about to be cancelled at her university. The get caught in his lie while struggling with his exis-
opportunity to present the event with a prestigious tential crisis, his love of booze, and the anxiety of
and very private writer who has not been seen in being a writer. Everything changes when he falls in
public for 20 years could become the event's lifeli- love with Simone and realises that she too could be
ne. Simone sends a letter to Shriver (Michael Shan- much more than she appears to be. It's a film about
non), inviting him to be honoured at the literary creativity taken to the extreme and an encounter
festival. But this Shriver doesn't remember being with the truth. Michael Shannon is extraordinary,
a writer; he's just a depressed maintenance worker and proof of this was his ability to bring to life a
in a New York apartment building who thinks the complete character who is apparently inert and lost
only similarity between him and the writer is his in his existence, while at the same time proving fas-
name. The possibility of receiving prize money cinating in his nuances of ingenuity and kindness.
makes him assume the writer's identity. It's clear JORGE PINTO

98 METROPOLIS OCTOBER 2023