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The Great American Lie (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Great American Lie (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 99 min · English
Directed by
Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Starring
Libby Schaaf, Gavin Newsom, Kimberle Crenshaw, Linda Darling-Hammond, Nicholas Kristof, Ruby De Tie

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.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Great American Lie (2020)

Where can you watch The Great American Lie? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Kanopy, Fandango at Home Free and Plex: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

The Great American Lie Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Great American Lie (2020), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • 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

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Setting

Where and When Does The Great American Lie Take Place?

The setting of The Great American Lie (2020): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

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

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3 major themes

The Great American Lie Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Great American Lie (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message 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

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Character & theme questions

The Great American Lie Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about The Great American Lie (2020): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does the documentary take place?

The documentary is set across various locations throughout America, featuring both urban centers and rural communities. It specifically highlights the stark contrasts in lived experiences based on economic status and gender dynamics, showing how different regions grapple with inequality.

  • settings
  • locations
  • america
  • urban
  • rural
Q2

What time period does the film cover?

The documentary is set in the contemporary era, reflecting current issues of inequality and gender dynamics in American society. It draws parallels to historical moments like the Great Depression as it explores themes of economic fragmentation.

  • time period
  • contemporary
  • era
  • modern
Q3

What is the main theme of the documentary?

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

  • inequality
  • theme
  • american dream
  • social divide
Q4

How does the film address inequality?

The documentary examines how systemic structures perpetuate social and economic divides across America. It uses personal narratives to illustrate the human impact of these disparities, showing how economic status affects access to opportunities, education, and justice.

  • inequality
  • economic disparity
  • systemic issues
Q5

What role does community play in the film?

Community values are often overshadowed by a masculine worldview that prioritizes individualism and authority. The film presents a counter-narrative emphasizing empathy and cooperation, showcasing characters who strive to build connections and uplift their communities amid adversity.

  • community
  • empathy
  • cooperation
  • connection
Q6

What social justice issues does the documentary cover?

The documentary navigates the need for reform in education and criminal justice sectors. It highlights individuals advocating for systemic changes that prioritize care and understanding over punitive measures, emphasizing urgency and relevance in today's socio-political landscape.

  • social justice
  • criminal justice reform
  • education
  • systemic change
Q8

What is the Public School Principal's role in the film?

The Public School Principal serves as a dedicated advocate for impoverished students, embodying resilience in the face of systemic challenges. She works to create opportunities for her students despite the inequalities they face, representing education as a vehicle for change.

  • principal
  • education
  • students
  • advocate
Q9

What does the Steelworker's story illustrate?

The Steelworker's story illustrates the harsh realities of an evolving economy and the personal toll it takes on individuals and families. His narrative represents the broader crisis of economic despair affecting workers across America as traditional industries decline.

  • steelworker
  • job loss
  • economic despair
  • unemployment
Q10

What message is the documentary trying to convey?

The documentary argues that the traditional American Dream appears increasingly unattainable for many due to systemic economic inequality and gender disparities. While the subject matter is dark and analytically presented, the film aims to broaden dialogue and propose change, ending on a hopeful note.

  • message
  • american dream
  • inequality
  • change
  • hope
Q11

How does the film portray gender dynamics?

The documentary examines how inequality particularly affects women, highlighting the struggles of low-wage female workers through a social advocate character. It also features a conservative single mother navigating from isolation to community connection, illustrating broader challenges faced by women across economic backgrounds.

  • gender
  • women
  • female workers
  • inequality

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Great American Lie, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Great American Lie tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

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.

  • urgent
  • serious
  • informative
  • critical
  • thought-provoking
  • somber
  • Tone: serious, critical, urgent
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: 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 they belong together: 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.

  • somber
  • hopeful
  • serious
  • thought-provoking
  • urgent
  • cathartic
  • Tone: dark, serious, but ultimately hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: 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 they belong together: 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.

Every angle

The Great American Lie (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Great American Lie in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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