The Invention of Lying
Imagine a world where even politicians don’t lie. Sounds strange, right?
Why would anyone tell a lie? In an environment where the notion of lying is not even considered. The word “lie” doesn’t exist there.
“The Invention of Lying,” a 2009 comedy film, is set in an alternative reality where people are incapable of lying; they don’t even know what a lie is. They are oblivious not only to lying but to concealing anything at all.
If someone’s outfit doesn’t match, they say it outright. If a haircut doesn’t suit, they immediately comment on it.
Imagine a world where whatever you think is instantly heard by others. Life would probably be unbearable.
I’m not advocating for lying, but depending on the culture, people at least pay attention to what and where they say things. They might not like a dish but say it’s nice to avoid offending someone.
Or when someone has to inform a person of a relative’s death, they don’t bluntly say, “Your father is dead.” They might start by saying he’s ill, had a heart attack, or use softer expressions. They choose phrases like “he passed away” or “he departed this world.”
But in the world of the film, instead of these, imagine hearing brutal truths like ‘your loved one burned alive in a fire’ or ‘fell off a cliff and was shattered to pieces.’
In a world like in the film, a criminal would perhaps immediately divulge critical information that could dismantle the entire network. Maybe crime networks wouldn’t even get a chance to develop, or perhaps intelligence agencies wouldn’t exist. In wars, a captured soldier would immediately reveal all plans, locations, and arsenals when asked.
Why would anyone tell a lie? In an environment where the notion of lying isn’t even questioned. The word “lie” isn’t there. Imagine a world where even politicians don’t lie. Sounds strange, right?
In such an environment, our main character Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais) cannot pay his rent and goes to withdraw money from the bank. He has $300 in his account but needs $800.
When the bank teller tells him that there’s a system error and she can’t see his balance, Mark claims he has $800. The teller, believing in the principle that the customer’s statement is the truth, gives him the amount he asks for. She even believes that it was a system error although the system is restored and shows $300 in his account.
Others might not know, but the first lie has been told, and lying has been discovered. However, the inventor of lying, our protagonist, cannot even define what a lie is. When he tells his name differently, his best friend remarks, “How strange that I never knew your real name all these years.” When he claims to be black, despite being white, the person he is talking to says, “Your skin is a bit light, but that’s okay” and genuinely believes it.
The film, while primarily a comedy, also contains deep philosophical and social messages about the effects of lying on human relationships, society, and life in general. It also boasts strong acting performances, providing an entertaining yet thought-provoking experience.
The Nature of Lying and Human Relationships
Initially, humans do not have the ability to lie, and thus they speak directly. Despite a police alcohol test, the protagonist simply says, “My friend isn’t drunk,” and the police believe him over the device.
At a casino, when a machine doesn’t give out the winnings, the protagonist claims he won, and the owner pays out immediately based on his word alone.
However, as Mark Bellison discovers lying, significant changes occur in his relationships and in society. The emergence of lying complicates interpersonal interactions and emphasizes the importance of trust in relationships.
Human Nature and Lying
The film explores the complexities of human nature and how lying affects people’s behaviors.
Initially, Mark uses lying solely for his own benefit, but later begins to use it to comfort and please others.
For instance, when his mother is on her deathbed and unhappy because the doctor bluntly tells her, “you’re going to die very soon,” Mark tells her, “You’re not going to vanish. There’s a Lord in the sky, and the Lord in the sky will take you to another world where there’s no sickness, no trouble, no old age. You’ll see your parents and other loved ones there. Say hello to my dad for me.”
These statements cause a stir among the doctors, and Mark’s narrative soon spreads through the media. However, over time, Mark demonstrates the potential for lying to be misused and for people to be manipulated. He escalates his lies to, “I spoke with the Lord in the sky,” and people believe that too. But eventually, things start to get out of hand.
Mark cannot provide sufficient answers to the questions asked, leading to headlines like, “The Lord in the sky allowed a woman to live to 104 years old,” or, “The Lord in the sky killed 40 people this year.”
The film highlights the attributes of creation and destruction associated with the creator. People become uneasy thinking the creator directly takes the lives of their loved ones. However, according to islamic beliefs, there is an angel responsible for liberating the soul from the body, and death is masked by diseases and accidents, so generally, the creator isn’t blamed directly, but reasons are discussed.
At the end of the film, only Mark and his son can lie. Even though his son grimaces, he still says his mother’s cooking is delicious. Lying seems to be genetically contagious :)
While finding a society as honest as in the film might be impossible, achieving such an atmosphere on an individual level has been possible from time to time.
Muhammad was called ‘Al-Amin’ during his lifetime of 63 years, meaning ‘The Trustworthy,’ and even his staunchest enemies couldn’t accuse him of lying. 1,400 years ago (before satellites, Elon Musk, and SpaceX), he described the Miraculous Night Journey, and upon hearing this, Abu Bakr said, “If he said it, then it must be true,” even though he heard it from another source.
As I mentioned in my previous writings, echoing John R. Schafer’s statement that “people are inclined to believe,” George Orwell in his novel Animal Farm says, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Indeed, people are inclined to believe, but some are more inclined to believe certain people over others.
I think this inclination to believe is related to absolute obedience in the military. How can a subordinate fully obey a superior they do not believe in? If the superior is questioned, so is the order. Yet, the notion that the superior knows best guides subordinates willingly into absolute obedience. Otherwise, no soldier would have listened to Mustafa Kemal at Gallipoli when he ordered them to die rather than retreat because they were out of bullets, commanding, “I am not ordering you to attack, I am ordering you to die. Fix bayonets! Lie down!”
If the trusted figures are like Sultan Alparslan, Fatih Sultan Mehmet, or Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, known for their sagacity and foresight, then all the better.
But what if the trusted figures are like Hitler, or their modern-day equivalents, who consistently mislead and manipulate their followers with lies? In such cases, there emerges a significant security issue and vulnerability, both on an individual and national scale.
In his article titled “Making History,” Bahadirsahin draws a very meaningful framework regarding the limits of belief. He describes the limits of believing in and fearing Hitler with the following words:
When he died, he was buried in a ceremony attended by French soldiers, and his family spoke of him with pride. His son said about his father, “He saved not just the city but the lives of many people.” Movies and books were made about General Choltitz, who could tell Hitler, “Paris is burning, isn’t it, Dietrich?” with “Not quite.”
The movie “The Invention of Lying” skillfully blends comedy elements with social, religious, and philosophical themes, addressing the complexity of human nature and the questionability of societal norms.
While the film emphasizes the importance of honesty, it also discusses how lying might be justifiable sometimes to protect or comfort people. This dilemma encourages viewers to think and understand the complexity of human nature.
Mark’s ability to influence and direct people through lying indicates power and manipulation. This situation demonstrates the dark aspects of human nature and how the desire for power can be abused.
There are so many lies in the world. Some are told in Turkey, some in America… Some in Palestine, some in China. And people choose which lies to believe.
While some people tell white lies to make a dying patient happy, others can utter pitch-black lies with the ease of drinking coffee, using phrases like ‘It’s for the children; they would have grown up to be terrorists.’
Although much can be said about lies, here’s hoping the truth prevails…
If you watch the movie or have watched it before, I would be delighted to read your comments under this post.
I would like to thank Orhan Turanfor recommending the movie…
