Everyone tells big and small lies in their daily lives. Even if you say that you are the type of person who does not lie, you may have had the experience of telling a very small and innocuous lie that you were not aware of. From the past, people have referred to lies by different names, such as white lies or downright lies, depending on their nature or intention. We would like to introduce to you some works about various lies.
 

 

Book

"Lies aren't told by bad kids. It's the unloved child who hits."
- The Protagonist

 

<Almost All Lies (2016)>

In a world where lying certificates exist, the protagonist holds a Level 2 certificate in lying and hopes to attain a Level 1 certification with her current assignment. The task comes from a woman who wants to test her taxi driver boyfriend's true feelings. If he falls for the protagonist, it suggests his love isn't exclusive. The protagonist attempts to seduce him by going on several dates and tells the man that she wants to be the only passenger in his taxi. The man does not reject her and decides not to pick up any customers. After spending time with him, she submits her report to the woman, but it is dismissed as the woman doesn't want to believe her boyfriend would act that way because she thinks he truly loves her. This prompts the protagonist to ponder whether she should tailor her responses to what the woman wants to hear. At the same time, she encounters a boy who easily falls for her lies, confesses his love and pleads with her to live with him, putting her in a situation to choose between him and the taxi driver. Will she be able to fool everyone and get a first-class license?

 

Recommendation

The book offers a thought-provoking exploration of human relationships and the complexities of love and deception. Through the protagonist's experiences with the woman's boyfriend and the naive boy, the book delves into themes of trust, manipulation, and the consequences of dishonesty. The story also presents a unique premise with characters who possess lying certifications, adding an intriguing layer to the narrative. This aspect opens up discussions about ethics, morality, and the nature of truth. Overall, this book provides readers with a compelling and mind-stirling read that explores complex themes with nuance and depth.
 

 

Movie

"If I could take a giant eraser and rub out everything, starting with myself."
- Tom Ripley

 

<The Talented Mr. Ripley (2000)>

Tom Ripley is a poor young man who barely makes a living by working as a hotel porter during the day and a piano tuner at night. He has a talent for lying and imitating other people's voices and handwriting. One day, while playing the piano at a high-class party, he is noticed by Herbert Richard Greenleaf, the president of a shipping company. Greenleaf mistakes Tom for his son's college classmate and asks him to bring his son Dickie Greenleaf back from Italy with a large reward. Since Tom can travel for free and earn some money, he accepts the offer and leaves for Italy. At first, he tries to accomplish the task as he promised Dickie's father, but Tom starts to enjoy the illusion of being a member of high society as he spends time with Dickie. However, Dickie, who has a self-centered and capricious personality, stays away from Tom, and Tom becomes anxious at the thought of having to return from his dream-like life to his previous one. Eventually, Tom begins to pretend to be Dickie by forging Dickie's photo and imitating his handwriting. Can Tom continue this lie without being caught until the end?
 

 

Recommendation

This movie is a remake of <Purple Noon (1960)> and was produced to reflect the synopsis of the original novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. The term "Ripley Syndrome," an antisocial personality disorder where individuals believe only in a fictional world and habitually tell lies, also originates from this novel. What is noteworthy in the movie is Tom's emotional changes. At the beginning of the movie, Tom feels love and envy for Dickie. However, in the latter part of the movie, he feels obsession and misplaced desire. The character "Tom" represents the human psychology of longing and envy for what one doesn't have. His inability to channel these feelings in the right way lingers in the readers' minds. Also, the clear difference in status between what Tom wears and what Dickie wears is one of the interesting elements in the movie. This is a movie that allows readers to think about whether they can be happy in someone else's life that they stole to hide themselves.

Seo Kang Seoyoon / Cub Reporter
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Shin Jung Soomin / Cub Reporter
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