“So you think you’ve seen it all before. You have no idea.” South Pacific Pictures has debuted the first trailer for the Kiwi drama White Lies (Tuakiri Huna), starring singer/songwriter Whirimako Black, Boy‘s Rachel House and the brilliant Antonia Prebble.

It’s an intriguing piece of promo, especially if you haven’t read the novella Medicine Woman, by Whale Rider author Witi Ihimaera, and know the ‘big secret’.

Set in postcolonial New Zealand, a medicine woman and healer (Black) is approached by the servant (House) of a wealthy European woman (Prebble), seeking her skills to hide a secret – one which could destroy the woman’s position in society and result in the loss of a life. Yet keeping it secret may also have fatal consequences. As a result, the three find themselves in “a head on clash of beliefs, deception and ultimate salvation”.

White Lies is written and directed by Mexican filmmaker Dana Rotberg (Otilia Rauda) with funding from NZ On Air and the New Zealand Film Commission. And the Whale Rider connection deepens with producer John Barnett on board, alongside Chris Hampson (Under the Mountain).

Looks like the baby daddy is not from upper European Society then? (he says, stitching the synopsis and trailer together). Although the trailer does a good job of making you realise there’s more to it than that. And after reading a description of the novella, there are some unexpected twists to this tale – this film may be much more than meets the eye.

I am slightly troubled by the tonal shift during the trailer. The tranquil beginning and overly dramatic turn reminds me of promo for a horror film – which this is not. Still, it leaves me wanting to know more so I guess it’s done its job?

Prebble is becoming quite the leading lady – deservedly so. As well as starring in South Pacific Pictures’ TV series The Blue Rose (she’s definitely the best thing in it), Antonia scored the main role in action-drama The Cure from director David Gould, which will hopefully appear on our screens in the next 12 months.

White Lies opens 27 June.

What do you think of the trailer?

White Lies is a story about the nature of identity: those who deny it and those who strive to protect it. Paraiti (Whirimako Black) is a medicine woman. She is the healer and midwife of her rural, tribal people – she believes in life. But new laws are in force prohibiting unlicensed healers. On a rare trip to the city, she is approached by Maraea (Rachel House), the servant of a wealthy woman, Rebecca (Antonia Prebble), who seeks her knowledge and assistance in order to hide a secret which could destroy Rebecca’s position in European settler society. If the secret is uncovered a life may be lost, but hiding it may also have fatal consequences. So Paraiti, Maraea and Rebecca become players in a head on clash of beliefs, deception and ultimate salvation.

Written and directed by Dana Rotberg, the film stars Whirimako Black, Antonia Prebble, Rachel House, Nancy Bunning, Te Waimarie Kessell, Elizabeth Hawthorne and Kohuorangi Ta Whara.

 

White Lies Poster