FORBIDDEN LIE$
NORMA Khouri goes from hero to goat in “Forbidden Lie$.”
As you probably don’t remember, Khouri — claiming to be a Jordian virgin being hunted by Islamic crazies — struck gold in 2003 with her book “Forbidden Loves.”
It told of a Muslim friend who was killed by her Jordanian family because she dared to fall a love with a Christian man, a big no-no in that part of the world.
Khouri’s bubble burst about a year later when an Australian newspaper revealed that she is really non-virgin Norma Bagain, a Chicago real estate agent and married mother of two being sought by the FBI for a million dollars worth of fraud.
She’s no Bernie Madoff; but, as the film shows, she’s ruined several lives.
In “Forbidden Lie$,” Khouri/Bagain travels to Jordan with Aussie filmmaker Anna Broinowski in an attempt to clear her name. Don’t bet on it.
The docudrama, which uses actors to illustrate parts of the story, moves along acceptably until the redundant final 30 minutes.
To tell the truth, chopping them off would add zip to “Forbidden Lie$.”
Running time: 106 minutes. Not rated (kids would be bored). At Cinema Village, 12th Street, east of Fifth Avenue.

