The Lie is a 2011 American drama-comedy film, directed by Joshua Leonard, from a screenplay by Leonard, Jess Weixler, Mark Webber, and Jeff Feuerzeig. It is based upon a short story of the same name by T. Coraghessan Boyle that was printed in The New Yorker. It stars Leonard, Weixler, Webber, Kelli Garner, Jane Adams, Alia Shawkat, Gerry Bednob, Holly Woodlawn, Kirk Baltz, Tipper Newton and Violet Long.

Plot

Lonnie and Clover are a young married couple with a baby daughter, Xana. The unplanned baby meant the couple had to abandon their early notions of idealism and make compromises for economic security. Clover, a former activist, has landed herself a cushy job in the corporate world. Lonnie, who has put his interest in music on hold for a job at a film production house, feels his dreams are behind him and starts seeing a therapist for depression. One day, to get out of work, he calls in sick, but his abusive boss demands he show up or he will be fired. Lonnie panics and tells a shocking lie to justify his absence. Once the lie is out, there's no going back for Lonnie. The lie pushes Lonnie to figure out who he is, what he wants, and what it means to be a father.