In this film we meet a menagerie of ordinary people, whose ordinary hurts, pains, joys and struggles turn out to be quite extraordinary. This movie shows that our best attempts to label and pigeon-hole other people are thwarted by the simple fact that each human being, no matter how "ordinary," or seemingly unlovable, is significant. But, does it adequately answer the question of why those lives might be significant?

Secrets & Lies tells many stories, but focuses on a middle-aged woman, bitter, alone, and burdened, unliked by her own family. She is contacted by the daughter she put up for adoption years ago, and the wealthy brother she hasn't seen in a few years -- and is taken on a journey she never would have chosen - one in which she confronts the scandalous idea that she might just be loved and significant, despite her poor choices and imperfections. Truth is a risky proposition indeed. Brenda Blethyn's universally-acclaimed performance in this role is one for the record books, and just one of many fine performances in this film.