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Stories We Tell

Name: Stories We Tell
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2012-10-12
Cast: Michael Polley, Harry Gulkin, Susy Buchan, John Buchan, Mark Polley

2012 | 109 min | Documentary

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (94% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for the curious. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood: Eye-opening.
The pace: Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 49 min.
What might put you off: Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Canadian actress and filmmaker Sarah Polley investigates certain secrets related to her mother, interviewing a group of family members and friends whose reliability varies depending on their implication in the events, which are remembered in different ways; so a trail of questions remains to be answered, because memory is always changing and the discovery of truth often depends on who is telling the tale.

How it earned its rating

CriticsVery strong
94% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 41K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Sarah Polley

Michael PolleyStoryteller
Harry GulkinStoryteller
Susy BuchanStoryteller
John BuchanStoryteller
Mark PolleyStoryteller
Joanna PolleyStoryteller
Cathy GulkinStoryteller
Marie MurphyStoryteller
Robert MacMillanStoryteller
Anne TaitStoryteller