The Great American Lie

The Great American Lie

Year: 2020

Runtime: 99 min

Language: English

Director: Jennifer Siebel Newsom

Documentary

Filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom investigates the growing divide between the wealthy and impoverished in America. Through her exploration, she reveals a harsh reality where the traditional American Dream appears increasingly unattainable for many, highlighting the consequences of this economic disparity.

Dark
Happy ending
Emotionally heavy
Medium intensity
Steady pacing
Moderate complexity

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Great American Lie yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Great American Lie (2020)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Great American Lie (2020). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary

The documentary is set in the contemporary era, reflecting current issues of inequality and gender dynamics in American society. This period is marked by growing economic disparities, societal shifts, and a deepening crisis of connection among individuals. It draws parallels to historical moments like the Great Depression as it explores themes of fragmentation.

Location

America

The film takes place in various locations across America, featuring urban centers and rural communities. It highlights the stark contrasts in lived experiences based on economic status and gender dynamics. America, often viewed as the land of opportunity, is depicted in a light that reveals underlying inequalities and systemic challenges.

🇺🇸 United States 🌆 Urban 🌄 Rural

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:15

Main Characters – The Great American Lie (2020)

Meet the key characters of The Great American Lie (2020), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Public School Principal

A dedicated advocate for her impoverished students, this principal embodies resilience in the face of systemic challenges. She works tirelessly to create opportunities for her students despite the inequalities they face. Her story reflects the importance of education as a vehicle for change.

👩‍🏫 Education 🏅 Advocacy

Social Advocate

This character is on a mission to highlight the struggles of low-wage female workers, seeking to bring their challenges to the forefront of societal awareness. Through her activism, she addresses critical issues such as labor rights and economic equality.

🔍 Activism 👩‍💼 Empowerment

Public Interest Lawyer

Advocating for criminal justice reform, this lawyer focuses on a compassionate approach to justice that emphasizes care over punishment. Her work reveals the flaws in the existing system and highlights the need for a more humane perspective on justice.

⚖️ Justice 🏥 Care

Steelworker

A steelworker grappling with job losses and economic despair, this character's story is one of resilience amidst adversity. He faces the harsh realities of an evolving economy and the personal toll it takes on individuals and families.

🔧 Industry 💔 Struggle

Conservative Single Mother

This character embarks on a transformative journey from isolation to community connection. Her story illustrates the challenges faced by many women, emphasizing the importance of understanding and empathy in bridging divides.

👩‍👧 Family 🌱 Transformation

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:15

Major Themes – The Great American Lie (2020)

Explore the central themes of The Great American Lie (2020), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Inequality

The predominant theme of the film is inequality, focusing on how systemic structures perpetuate social and economic divides. Through personal stories, it illustrates the human impact of these inequalities, particularly concerning gender dynamics. The film challenges viewers to reconsider the implications of the American Dream in light of such disparities.

👩‍🤝‍👩 Community

Community values are often overshadowed by a masculine worldview, which prioritizes individualism and authority. The film presents a counter-narrative that emphasizes the importance of empathy and cooperation. It showcases characters who strive to build connections and uplift their communities amid adversity.

🏛️ Social Justice

Social justice is a critical theme as the documentary navigates the need for reform in various sectors, including education and criminal justice. It highlights individuals advocating for systemic changes that prioritize care and understanding over punitive measures. The theme underscores the documentary's urgency and relevance in today's socio-political landscape.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:15

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Urgent Social Documentaries like The Great American Lie

Documentaries that expose systemic issues through powerful personal narratives.Explore movies like The Great American Lie that tackle important social justice topics. These documentaries combine personal stories with expert analysis to provide a clear-eyed look at systemic failures, offering a similar informative and thought-provoking viewing experience.

urgentseriousinformativecriticalthought-provokingsomber

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern typically involves weaving together several personal accounts with broader historical, political, or economic context. A central argument is built methodically, using these human stories as evidence to illuminate a larger systemic problem. The journey often moves from exposing the issue to exploring potential solutions or calls to action.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on critiquing social structures through a mix of intimate storytelling and analytical depth. They share a serious, urgent tone, a steady analytical pace, and aim to leave the viewer both informed and emotionally moved to consider change.

Dark but Hopeful Movies like The Great American Lie

Stories that confront harsh truths but ultimately point toward change.Find films similar to The Great American Lie that explore heavy, real-world issues but end on a hopeful note. If you liked the balance of grim reality and cautious optimism in this documentary, you'll appreciate other movies in this thread.

somberhopefulseriousthought-provokingurgentcathartic

Narrative Summary

These narratives often follow a structure of problem exposition, emotional immersion in the consequences, and a final pivot toward resilience, advocacy, or potential solutions. The emotional journey is heavy, as it confronts difficult truths, but concludes by validating the human capacity for change, solidarity, or reform, providing a cathartic release from pure bleakness.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their unique tonal balance: they are dark and serious in their exploration of weighty themes, yet their endings feel hopeful or purposeful. This creates a specific, impactful emotional arc that is distinct from purely tragic or purely optimistic stories.

Unlock the Full Story of The Great American Lie

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Great American Lie in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Great American Lie is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Great American Lie Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Great American Lie, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Great American Lie Summary

The Great American Lie Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Great American Lie with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Great American Lie Timeline

The Great American Lie Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Great American Lie that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Great American Lie Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Great American Lie

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Great American Lie: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Great American Lie

Explore More About Movie The Great American Lie

The Great American Lie (2020) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

The Great American Lie (2020) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

The Great American Lie (2020) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow