Brilliant Lies

Based on the play by David Williamson, this Australian film tests the boundaries of sex and power in the work place, while exploring the inherently biased nature of human perception. Sultry Suzy Conner (played by Gia Carides of Strictly Ballroom) accuses her boss, Gary (Anthony LaPaglia of The Client and Betsy's Wedding), of sexually humiliating and harassing her after-hours in the office. Claiming he dismissed her for not complying with his sexual demands, Gia files a lawsuit against him and demands $40,000 in punitive damages. To compound matters, Gia learns that her father, who molested her when she was young, is in desperate need of the same exact sum for life-saving heart surgery. What works about this film is that it examines each character in question with a judicious eye and just the right amount of suspicion. The viewer is never sure who is telling the truth and who is slanting his or her story to fit a particular end. The strength of Brilliant Lies is not necessarily its acting but its thought-provoking script. The dynamics of sexual prowess and office politics bubble over here with intensity. Strong optional. (A. Glover)