Different people, varying in age, gender and cultural background, confess their lies. White lies, necessary lies, lies to protect themselves or someone else. But also lies that fuel pain, change relationships, evoke guilt or are difficult to forgive and forget. The stories intertwine and form a web of branches, a Tree of Lies. Eyes, hands and lips give a glimpse into the soul. When is lying needed and acceptable? And when does it cause pain to the other person or, due to shame and guilt, an even stronger pain to the liar themselves? By exploring this thin and subjective line, the film invites the viewers to evaluate their own relationship with lying.

TREE OF LIES is part of a documentary series on the Ten Commandments, produced by DOXY Films and EOdocs, in which ten filmmakers each give their take on one of the Commandments. Raluca Lupaşcu ventured into the ninth commandment: ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.’