Movie spotlight
Five Thousand Lies
A professor asks two poor students of law to steal, for a fee, a rare figurine from the house of a collector. After the successful outcome of the theft, the professor dies from joy, and the two students decide to return the figurine to its owner. There they meet his daughters, to whom they tell numerous lies. In the end, it is revealed that the whole thing was part of a wager between the professor and the collector, and the two students fall in love with the latter's daughters.
Insights
Plot Summary
A successful but emotionally stunted architect finds his life unraveling when he becomes entangled with his former lover and a dangerous criminal. As past secrets surface, he must confront his own destructive tendencies and the consequences of his choices. The film explores themes of ambition, guilt, and the complexities of human relationships. Ultimately, he must decide whether to succumb to his destructive path or seek redemption.
Critical Reception
Five Thousand Lies received a mixed reception upon its release. Critics were divided on its thematic depth and narrative coherence, with some praising its performances and bleak portrayal of its protagonist, while others found it melodramatic and unfocused. Audience reception was similarly varied, with the film failing to achieve widespread commercial success.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for strong lead performances, particularly from Cliff Robertson and Joanne Woodward.
Some critics found the plot convoluted and the pacing uneven.
The film's exploration of moral ambiguity and the darker side of success was noted by many reviewers.
Google audience: Information not readily available for Google user reviews.
Fun Fact
Although the film was released in 1966, it was filmed in the summer of 1965. The title itself is a reference to the overwhelming number of fabricated stories the main character tells.
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