In 2004 Australian journalist Malcolm Knox exposed the extremely successful autobiography Forbidden Love and its author Norma Khouri as being a fake. It rocked the literary world.
Norma was in fact, a real estate agent from Chicago, mother of two and on the run from the FBI; not the virgin Jordanian woman campaigning against honour killings, she claimed to be on chat shows all over the world.
As her bizarre story unfolded in the press, Norma went into hiding and has not wanted to talk"¦ until now.
Forbidden Lie$ is the fascinating new documentary from Australian filmmaker Anna Bronowski. It follows Norma as she finally puts forward her case and starts to explain the truth behind the scandal"¦ or does she?
Bronowski has done a terrific job with this film.
She is meticulous in how and when she reveals information. She allows Norma to explain her story upfront and just when you start to feel for this slighted, passionate woman, who wants to help those with no voice, Bronowski brilliantly introduces journalists and witnesses who contradict what Norma has stated.
The film takes us on a thrilling hunt for the truth from Queensland to London, to Norma’s seedy past in Chicago and on to Jordan.
As the documentary unfolds the audience and the filmmaker herself begin to question whether we are all being duped.
Forbidden Lie$ is not without humour, due to the eclectic array of characters orbiting Norma. I particularly enjoyed her dubious husband and his strenuous denials of being a member of the Chicago mob, all the while sounding and acting like Al Capone’s protégé.
Norma herself really is the star of this tale as she, not Bronowski seems to be controlling the strings. She is charming, compelling and quite scary"¦ a terrific subject!
I am fascinated by how lies and different truths work in our society, from politicians to the person next door. Bronowski has brilliantly captured that blurring of perspectives.
For its truth about lies... I’m giving it 4 stars.
