Review of Stories We Tell (2012) by Brett B — 18 Dec 2013
As unique a documentary as I've seen. This is a deeply personal film, with director Sarah Polley investigating elements of her family's past, and in some respects it's quite a fascinating mystery, in the sense that you have no idea where it's going, and once you think it's gotten there, there's still more to discover.
That Polley would choose to lay all of this bare is really admirable, and it's an exciting (a relative term) usage of the documentary form; the revelations get deeper and more unexpected as it progresses along, coupled with an almost hauntingly-bittersweet mood over the whole thing.
It's also one of the best edited films of the year, fiction or nonfiction, and this especially apparent in the way Polley has structured the movie to play with the idea of differing points-of-view and recollections, which might be the most interesting element of the whole piece.
Beyond that, it's strikingly moving and poignant at times, and it leaves one with a contemplative-but-hopeful tone that's hard to shake.
This review of Stories We Tell (2012) was written by Brett B on 18 Dec 2013.
Stories We Tell has generally received very positive reviews.
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