Secrets & Lies

Secrets & Lies

1996

After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a successful black eye doctor, seeks out her birth mother. She's shocked when her research leads her to a lower-class white woman, Cynthia (Brenda Blethyn). At first Cynthia denies the claim, but she eventually admits to birthing Hortense as a teenager, and the two begin to bond. However, when Cynthia invites Hortense to a family barbecue, Cynthia's already tense relationship with her family becomes even more complicated.

Roxanne drives her mother crazy. Maurice never speaks to his niece. Cynthia has a shock for her family. Monica can't talk to her husband. Hortense has never met her mother.

JBscale
92
Superior

Film Detail

Genre
Drama - Comedy
Length
2 hrs. 22 mins.
US Theatrical Release
February 28, 1997
US Box Office
$13,417,292 (#4061 of 7372)
Global Office
No Data Available
Rating
NR
Not Rated

Collection Detail

Edition
Single Disc Criterion Collection #1070 & Digital
Resolution | Digital Platform
iTunes
Aspect Ratio
WS 1.85:1
Audio
English: DTS-HD Master 2.0
Studio
Criterion
Released
March 30, 2021
Acquired Date
October 31, 2024
Times Seen
0 Times
Last Watched
Haven't seen it yet.

Actors

Timothy Spall
Timothy Spall
Phyllis Logan
Phyllis Logan
Brenda Blethyn
Brenda Blethyn
Claire Rushbrook
Claire Rushbrook
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Elizabeth Berrington
Elizabeth Berrington
Michele Austin
Michele Austin
Lee Ross
Lee Ross
Lesley Manville
Lesley Manville
Ron Cook
Ron Cook
Emma Amos
Emma Amos
Brian Bovell
Brian Bovell
Trevor Laird
Trevor Laird
Clare Perkins
Clare Perkins

Directors

Mike Leigh
Mike Leigh

Producers

Simon Channing Williams
Simon Channing Williams

Writers

Mike Leigh
Mike Leigh

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User Reviews

Ratings

JB Users
--
 
RT Fresh
96%
Tomatometer
45 votes
RT Fresh Certified
91%
Popcornmeter
640 votes
METASCORE
92
27 votes
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
48,705 votes

Additional Info

  1. IMDb
  2. Kids-in-Mind
  3. Common Sense Media