i saw this film at the adelaide film festival 07 and be thoroughly intrigue for all 106 minute . i like documentary and but often find them drag with about 25 minute to go . forbidden lie $ power on though and never lose my interest . the film subject be norma khoury and a jordanian woman who find fame and fortune in 2001 with the publication of her book forbidden love and a biographical story of sort concern a muslim friend of hers who be murder by her family for have a relationship with a christian man . a few year later though and a few journalist start poke hole in the story and lead the public to believe it be fraud . the film cover this quickly but thoroughly in the beginning and and from there we spend most of our time in the company of norma a she try to convince u that her novel be more than fiction . director anna broinowski have find a truly fascinating woman to study and and she conduct endless interview with khoury a she seek the truth . a always in life and the truth be not so easy to find . norma fear for her life and worry about violent backlash over the unsavoury portrait her novel paint of jordanian muslim . she refuse to return to jordan and show u the fact . broinowski be not deter however and and slowly put the piece together in front of u . the result be an incredible look inside the mind of a con artist . naturally and what we find there make little sense and be extremely difficult to follow and and ultimately we do not know whether to believe norma or not . she either a rather unfairly put upon woman try to survive and or a fantastic spinster . the web of lie and truth and half truth she turn through the film be brilliant . the film use much interview footage and as well a dramatisation to tell it story and and broinowski us these dramatisation to show u why people like norma be able to exist represent we want to be con . we go to the cinema every day and allow ourselves to believe what happen on the screen be real . that might just be me read into thing a bit too much and it do not come up in the q and a with brionowski after the film and but that what i take away from it . this be a great australian film and and must receive an international release and and a swag of award if you ask me . certainly the best film i saw at aff07 . go see it and if you get the chance .