Liar, Liar (1993 film)
- Not to be confused with Liar Liar (1997 film).
| Liar, Liar | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Drama |
| Written by | Nancy Isaak |
| Directed by | Jorge Montesi |
| Starring |
Vanessa King Art Hindle |
| Theme music composer | Fred Mollin |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Phil Savath |
| Editor(s) | Allan Lee |
| Running time | 90 min |
| Release | |
| Original network |
CBC Television (Canada) CBS (United States) |
| Original release |
January 1993 (Canada) June 22, 1993 (United States) |
Liar, Liar is a 1993 Canadian drama television film starring Vanessa King as a girl who accuses her father (Art Hindle) of molestation, only to have no one in her family believe her. The film originally aired in January 1993 on CBC Television in Canada.
It aired under the title Liar, Liar: Between Father and Daughter on CBS on June 22, 1993 in the United States. It was also released under the title Daddy's Little Secret in the United Kingdom.
Plot
One day at school, a classmate of 11-year-old Kelly Farrow (Vanessa King) tells about a relative who accused a family member of molestation and was sent to jail. Sometime later, after being "spanked" by her dad for locking her little brother in the bathroom, Kelly vows to make him pay. At school the next day, Kelly tells her teacher that her father Gil (Art Hindle) sexually abused her. Kelly speaks with authorities, and they arrange to have her father arrested. When her family learns of the accusation, they don't believe her, with the exception of her younger brother Patrick.
Though the authorities take action, Kelly's mother Mary (Rosemary Dunsmore) and sisters Jean "Nini" (Ashleigh Aston Moore) and Christina "Chrissy" (Janne Mortil) doubt Kelly, given her history of lying and bullying. People come to believe that Kelly is lying because her father is known to be strict in his punishments.
Kelly seems not to be telling the whole story, and when a newspaper article leaks that the incest victim is still a virgin, she tries to get people to believe her. When older sister Chrissy sees an interaction between her husband and Patrick in the bathroom, it opens up repressed memories from her childhood, and she believes Kelly. Kelly tells Chrissy that she knew what their dad did to her, and it's revealed that Patrick is afraid of being locked in the bathroom because he too had been molested by their dad.
In court, Chrissy defends her sister by telling the court of her own abuse. The judge apologizes to Kelly, stating that just because she's a child doesn't make her a liar, while also revealing that he wants a full investigation into Patrick's and Chrissy's allegations. While Mary and Nini are shocked at the situation, Kelly walks out with Chrissy and Patrick, pleased that she was finally believed.
Cast
- Art Hindle as Gil Farrow
- Vanessa King as Kelly Farrow
- Janne Mortil as Christina "Chrissie" Farrow-Berezuk
- Rosemary Dunsmore as Mary Farrow
- Ashleigh Aston Moore as Jean "Nini" Farrow
- Joel Palmer as Patrick Farrow
- Kate Nelligan as Susan Miori
- Roman Podhora as Keith Berezuk
- Michelle St. John as Janice
- Wendy Van Reisen as Mrs. Hildebrandt
- Kaj-Erik Eriksen as Jonah
- Susan Hogan as Helen Browne
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Gemini Award | Nominated | Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Nancy Isaak |
| Best TV Movie | Phil Savath | |||
| Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Vanessa King | |||
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Art Hindle | |||
| Best Original Music Score for a Program or Mini-Series | Fred Mollin | |||
| Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | Jorge Montesi |