White Lies tells the story of Alba, an artist who uses her art to explore a past that does not belong to her. Born into the controversial Children of God sect, she has no memories of her childhood. Driven by a desire for truth, Alba embarks on a painful confrontation with her mother and grandmother to understand the reasons that led them to join the cult and the painful consequences of those choices. 

A moving and intimate portrait of her search for identity, a journey that delves deep into family wounds. It raises universal questions about memory, trauma, manipulation and the power of forgiveness.

About the film:

White Lies goes beyond the framework of the classic personal documentary. Through family archives, photography, contemporary visual approaches and direct observation of family dynamics, Alba Zari explores the boundary between memory and truth.

The film tells the story of three women – a grandmother, a mother and a daughter – whose lives have been profoundly shaped by decisions made in the past. Rather than resorting to sensationalism, it offers an honest and subtle look at the consequences of manipulation, silence and intergenerational trauma.

Although rooted in a deeply personal story, the film addresses universal themes: how family stories shape us, how much truth we are willing to accept, and whether it is possible to break the cycle of trauma.

Author's statement:

White Lies stems from the need to tell my family story: an intimate investigation into the choices, silences and omissions that have marked three generations of women – my grandmother, my mother and me. 

The film aspires to be a space for recognition and reflection for those who have experienced abuse, coercion or trauma related to complex family relationships. The story becomes a tool for liberation, an invitation to use storytelling to break the chain of trauma and build new ways of dealing with and understanding the past.

At the same time, I was interested in the relationship between images and memory. A family album is not always proof of the truth – it often conceals, reshapes or even creates a new reality. The film therefore interweaves archival footage, photography and contemporary visual techniques to explore how our memories are formed and how we construct our own identities.