Stories we tell revolves firstly around diane polley, the directors energetic mother and sometimes stage actress, who died of cancer when polley was eleven years old. Her recent projects include the critically acclaimed film installation road movie tiff and berlin 2011 and stories we tell. Sarah polley blurred and out of focus in a dimensionthree shot. Her poignant investigation into the elusive truths and buried secrets of a family of storytellers paints a profound portrait of a complicated and deeply loving group of relatives you wont soon. The stories we tell by mike cosper is a look at how human mythology reminds us of our need for grace and redemption. First of all, jesse knocked this scene completely out of the park. One of henrys strongest suits as a writer is her ability to create a completely inviting world and then graciously welcome the reader in. Sep 21, 20 how interesting it would be if with polleys talent and abilities we could all attempt to reconstruct the story of someone weve lost. Rent stories we tell 2012 starring michael polley and sarah polley on dvd and bluray. And we tell these stories not only to others, but also to ourselves.
One can almost feel the humidity of savannah and smell the spanish moss. One of the most heralded films of the 2012 venice and toronto film festivals, academy awardnominee sarah polleys extraordinary stories we tell is a deeply moving portrait of a family dealing with a legacy of secrets and lies, and the elusive nature of truth itself. We tell stories that make us seem adventurous, or funny, or strong. Stories help us feel not quite so alone in this world. Family arguments often come down to who owns the narrative, or which version is decided upon as the true one. Despite or because of all the questioning and exposing of the mechanics of documenting the past, the results are a heartfelt tribute to family and personal identity. Stories we tell was released in 20 on friday, may 17, 20 in limited movie theaters. Unlike a great academic treatise, though, cosper does spend gallons of ink on obscure myths or distant stories. This feature documentary is an inspired, genretwisting film directed by oscar nominee sarah. Stories we tell by sarah polley nfb national film board of canada. We use stories to make sense of our world and to share that understanding with others. She owns and operates a letterpress studio specializing in the handmade. The film brings together director sarah polleys siblings, father, and friends of family, each person weaving his or her own narrative thread into a complex portrait of sarahs mother, diane. How interesting it would be if with polleys talent and abilities we could all attempt to reconstruct the story of someone weve lost.
The documentaries of life, and yesthe stories we tell. Her playful investigation into the elusive truth buried within the contradictions of a family of storytellers paints a profound portrait. She playfully interviews and interrogates a cast of characters of varying. Since the triumphs of stories we tell and the act of killing, hybrid film has threatened to take over the documentary world, with seemingly every other festival title bearing some trait of the highly disputed label. Eve and cooper morrison are savannahs power couple. Its an examination of polleys family history and particularly the complicated feelings surrounding polleys late mother, diane straight from the mouths of the polley family themselves. Theyre on every artistic board and deeply involved in the community. Stories we tell is a loveletter to her mother and father.
And even if a person isnt a professional author or speaker, we still need to learn to tell our stories well. When stories we tell was about to screen for the first time, sarah polley published a blog post to let everyone know that she would not be taking any interviews, at least not until the film was released theatrically. Joan didion famously wrote, we tell ourselves stories in order to live. Stories we tell is a 2012 canadian documentary film written and directed by sarah polley and produced by the national film board of canada nfb. May 16, 20 held together by a memoir written and narrated by polleys father, michael, stories we tell begins in the 1960s, when he and her mother, diane, met and fell in love while doing a play. Sarah voiced a concern she had during the making of stories we tell. The actressmother is pictured only in her vitality and beauty. In the stories we tell, patti callahan henry peels back the layers of family life to show us a perfect savannah family that is anything but perfect. Jan 16, 2017 we tell stories that make us seem adventurous, or funny, or strong. Jesse and i had some very trying stories to tell over the years and there were many moments when we really needed to lean on each other to get through them. May 09, 20 as a narrative, stories we tell isnt entirely trustworthy, but ultimately, its emotional content can absolutely be trusted. The episode is an eyeopening tale of how race served to rationalize. Rent stories we tell 2012 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix.
Stories we tell premiered august 29, 2012 at the 69th venice international film festival, then. I wanted to read slowly to enjoy the writing, the settings, the world of letterpress, the intricacies of the female relationships, but i had to keep turning pages to unravel the plot twists. I was going to have to live with and bear the brunt of and couldnt just completely walk away from. One of the most heralded films of the 2012 venice and toronto film festivals, academy awardnominee sarah polleys. Despite or because of all the questioning and exposing of the mechanics of documenting the past, the results are a heartfelt tribute to. Stories we tell soundtrack list stories we tell documentary. Her playful investigation into the elusive truth buried within the contradictions of a family of storytellers paints a profound portrait of a complicated and deeply loving family. While socks on fire deserves praise for nursing artistic ambitions beyond conventional nonfiction storytelling. The earliest films tended to lack a story structure, instead just capturing movement, but as the medium became more popular filmmakers developed a film language or a set of grammar rules for how to tell stories on film. Humans tell stories to give significance to our experiences, to share them with others so that we feel less alone in the world, to put life events into perspective, to provide entertainment, to. Jun 27, 20 stories we tell is a loveletter to her mother and father.
The story we tell traces the origins of the racial idea to the european conquest of the new world and to the american slave system the first ever where all. A film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers. Stories we tell is clearly a form of creative catharsis for polley. She playfully interviews and interrogates a cast of characters of. Stories we tell explores the elusive nature of truth and memory, but at its core is a deeply personal film about how our narratives shape and define us as. How to tell your story without boring your audience to tears.
Stories we tell soundtrack list documentary 20 tracklist ost listen to original score, theme music from the motion picture, film score list, song list of all of the songs played in the movie playlist, who sings them, including end credits. Shekhar kapur is a visionary filmmaker and storyteller who works at the intersection of art, myth and activism. With michael polley, john buchan, mark polley, joanna polley. Sarah polley, the canadian actress who directed away from her and take this waltz, turns her camera on a network of close and distant relatives, encouraging them to ramble on about the complicated relationship between her parents. She has produced numerous documentary and dramatic features for theatrical release.
The film explores her familys secretsincluding one intimately related to polleys own identity. Original music composed by jonathan goldsmith below you can view the. She was lovely, as she answered the interviewers questions concerning this movie. Aboriginal history, literacy, and cultural sensitivity a national resource centers on canada presentation at the 96th annual ncss conference in washington, dc by betsy arntzen, outreach coordinator canadianamerican center, university of maine northeast national resource center on canada amy sotherden, assistant director. The most obviously captivating member of the polley clan is one we glimpse only in photographs and home moviesdiane, the actress mother who died of cancer when polley was 11 and just starting her own acting career. Sep 26, 20 stories we tell is a remarkably accomplishment film by a deeply talented and courageous filmmaker. Prior to watching the trailer of stories we tell, i watched an interview of sarah polley, discussing this film. Stories are passed on from generation to generation, and in this way the past continues to live, but it can also be obscured or distorted. Because in hearing other peoples stories and telling our own, we often find understanding and acceptance. Oct 08, 2018 humans tell stories to give significance to our experiences, to share them with others so that we feel less alone in the world, to put life events into perspective, to provide entertainment, to.
Stories we tell is an inspired, genretwisting film by oscarnominated director sarah polley, and produced by anita lee for the nfb. Yet through its clarity and sincerity her documentary gathers greater meaning, transcending its. When actressturnedfilmmaker sarah polley premiered her feature film, stories we tell, on the fall festival circuit in 2012, no one knew exactly what to expect, even polley. Stories we tell premiered august 29, 2012 at the 69th venice international film festival, then played at the 39th telluride film festival and the 37th. Sarah polley looks back on how stories we tell changed her life. Polleys sister asks early onand its tempting, at the. It was morning but already it was 90 degrees outside. She was concerned that this film would not be interesting enough for an audience. The way families tell their stories with totally different meanings is at. As a narrative, stories we tell isnt entirely trustworthy, but ultimately, its emotional content can absolutely be trusted. The episode is an eyeopening tale of how race served to rationalize, even justify, american social. Actress and director sarah polleys take this waltz, away from her latest film, stories we tell, is much more in the traditional documentary vein. In her late 20s, sarah polley learned that her mother had had an affair with a film producer in montreal, and that, although she was raised by michael polley, her mothers. Film summary highly original and emotionally generous, stories we tell explores how we construct our realities and capture our memories through stories.
Dimension three of stories we tell is the selfreflective and unifying theme of the entire documentarya story about the nature of storytelling and narratives. Sarah polley is ready to make movies again, seven years after. Stories we tell explores the elusive nature of truth and memory, but at its core is a deeply personal film about how our narratives shape and define us as individuals and families, all. For over ten years we have consulted, produced and delivered compelling content worldwide for all needs and briefs whether formal or open ended. Mike and husband, and i were getting pretty sweaty.
Stories we tell discussion guide influence film club. Stories are recognizable patterns, and in those patterns we find meaning. Stories we tell trailer 20 documentary movie hd youtube. Everything you need to know about stories we tell movie. The theme is repeatedly mentioned in the movie itself, as well in the stories we tell official website. If its the one sex scene i can remember its quite graphic and clearly meant to show that the relationship is completely based on lust and not. The story we tell traces the origins of the racial idea to the european conquest of the new world and to the american slave system the first ever where all the slaves shared similar physical. A film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a. While the canadian star, known for such wideranging roles as the plucky protagonist in the kids series ramona and a heartbreaking teen in atom egoyans tragic drama the sweet hereafter, had already. Held together by a memoir written and narrated by polleys father, michael, stories we tell begins in the 1960s, when he and her mother, diane, met. Stories we tell premiered august 29, 2012 at the 69th venice international film festival, then played at the 39th telluride.
Stories we tell unpeels the complex life of diane, an aspiring actress and mother, and the. During the festival tour, she wanted the film to speak for itself. The stories we tell national council for the social studies. Yet through its clarity and sincerity her documentary gathers greater meaning, transcending its humble origins and effortlessly. There were 10 other movies released on the same date, including star trek into darkness, black rock and the english teacher. Stories we tell reminds me that what one family thinks is interesting is simply banal drivel for the rest of us. Okay, its fiftyfifty with this one, as half the movie is a told story and the other half of the film exists in the world that the story is told in, with an eye to how the stories effect the. Stories we tell is a remarkably accomplishment film by a deeply talented and courageous filmmaker. Opinion the stories we tell ourselves the new york times. Secondly, for me, this photo speaks volumes about our partnership. Anita lee producer is a producer of awardwinning films at the national film board of canada. Episode 2 of the 3part series race the power of an illusion episode 2 the story we tell uncovers the roots of the race concept in north america, the 19th century science that legitimated it, and how it came to be held so fiercely in the western imagination.
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