Synopsis
After her adoptive mother dies, Hortense, a successful black optometrist, seeks out her birth mother. She's shocked when her research leads her to Cynthia, a working class white woman.
Key facts
Cast
Timothy Spall, Brenda Blethyn, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Phyllis Logan, Claire Rushbrook, Lee Ross, Lesley Manville, Elizabeth Berrington
Original language
English
First release
May 24, 1996 (United Kingdom)
Production companies
CIBY 2000, Thin Man Films
Awards
Palme d'Or, National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Setting
London
Filming locations
London
Crew
Screenplay
Mike Leigh
Producer
Simon Channing Williams
Cinematography
Dick Pope
Editing
Jon Gregory
Music
Andrew Dickson
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
Titles
| Québec French title | Secrets et mensonges | |
| Alternate title | Secret and Lies |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | May 24, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | June 7, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Singapore | July 27, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | August 30, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Australia | September 5, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Germany | September 12, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Belgium | September 18, 1996 |
| Theatrical | France | September 18, 1996 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | September 21, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Canada | September 27, 1996 |
| Theatrical | United States | September 27, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Spain | October 3, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | October 11, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Finland | October 11, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | October 18, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | November 15, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | December 5, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Greece | December 6, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Italy | December 6, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | December 12, 1996 |
| Theatrical | Japan | December 21, 1996 |
| Theatrical | United States | February 20, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Argentina | February 27, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Uruguay | March 6, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Poland | March 7, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Turkey | March 7, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Mexico | May 16, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Venezuela | December 17, 1997 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | January 29, 1998 |
| Television | United Kingdom | April 12, 1998 |
| Theatrical | Slovakia | September 3, 1998 |
| Television | Brazil | October 2, 2000 |
| Television | Canada | February 9, 2002 |
| Theatrical | Serbia | February 26, 2010 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | April 24, 2014 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | November 16, 2018 |
| Streaming | United States | January 21, 2022 |
| Theatrical | Taiwan | January 24, 2025 |
| Television | France | May 22, 2026 |
| Theatrical | Greece | August 27, 2026 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 15 |
| Classification | United States | R |
Versions & editions
| Home video | United States | April 15, 1997 |
| Home video | United States | June 11, 1997 |
| Home video | France | September 1, 1997 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | September 29, 1997 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | August 16, 2001 |
| Home video | United States | February 1, 2005 |
| Home video | France | October 1, 2006 |
| Home video | Netherlands | January 1, 2010 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | March 2, 2015 |
| Home video | Brazil | January 1, 2017 |
| Home video | Italy | June 26, 2019 |
| Home video | Israel | July 29, 2019 |
| Home video | United States | March 30, 2021 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | April 26, 2021 |
Full credits
| Director | Mike Leigh |
| Cast | Timothy Spall, Brenda Blethyn, Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hortense Cumberbatch), Phyllis Logan (Monica Purley), Claire Rushbrook (Roxanne Purley), Lee Ross (Paul), Lesley Manville (The Social Worker), Elizabeth Berrington (Jane), Michele Austin (Dionne), Ron Cook (Stuart), Trevor Laird (Hortense's Brother), Brian Bovell (Hortense's Brother), Emma Amos (Girl with Scar), Clare Perkins (Hortense's Sister in Law), Elias Perkins McCook (Hortense's Nephew), Jane Mitchell (Senior Optician (as June Mitchell)), Janice Acquah (Junior Optician), Keylee Jade Flanders (Girl in Opticians (as Keeley Flanders)), Hannah Davis (First Bride), Terence Harvey (First Bride's Father), Kate O'Malley (Second Bride), Joe Tucker (Groom), Richard Syms (Vicar), Grant Masters (Best Man), Annie Hayes (Mother in Family Group), Jean Ainslie (Grandmother), Lucy Sheen (Nurse), Frances Ruffelle (Young Mother), Nitin Ganatra (Potential Suitor), Metin Marlow (Conjuror), Su Elliot (Raunchy Woman), Amanda Crossley (Raunchy Woman), Di Sherlock (Raunchy Woman), David Neilson (Man in Suit), Peter Waddington (Man in Suit), Peter Stockbridge (Man in Suit), Rachel Lewis (Graduate), Paul Trussell (Grinning Husband), Jonny Coyne (Fiance), Denise Orita (Uneasy Woman), Margery Withers (Elderly Lady), Gordon Winter (Laughing Man), Theresa Watson (Daughter), Peter Wight (Father in Family Group), Gary McDonald (Boxer), Alison Steadman (Woman with Dog), Liz Smith (Woman with Cat), Sheila Kelley (Fertile Mother), Angela Curran (Little Boy's Mother), Linda Beckett (Pin Up Housewife), Phil Davis (Man in Suit), Wendy Nottingham (Glum Woman), Anthony O'Donnell (Uneasy Man), Ruth Sheen (Laughing Woman), Mia Soteriou (Fiancee), Stephen Churchett (Man in Suit) |
| Screenplay | Mike Leigh |
| Producer | Simon Channing Williams |
| Cinematography | Dick Pope |
| Editing | Jon Gregory |
| Music | Andrew Dickson |
| Production design | Alison Chitty |
| Costumes | Maria Price |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
Source: Wikidata (CC0-1.0)
