Stories We Tell
2012 · 109 min · Director: Sarah Polley
Show plot summary (may contain spoilers)
In this inspired, genre-twisting new film, Oscar®-nominated writer/director Sarah Polley discovers that the truth depends on who's telling it. Polley is both filmmaker and detective as she investigates the secrets kept by a family of storytellers. She playfully interviews and interrogates a cast of characters of varying reliability, eliciting refreshingly candid, yet mostly contradictory, answers to the same questions. As each relates their version of the family mythology, present-day recollections shift into nostalgia-tinged glimpses of their mother, who departed too soon, leaving a trail of unanswered questions. Polley unravels the paradoxes to reveal the essence of family: always complicated, warmly messy and fiercely loving. 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 interconnecting to paint a profound, funny and poignant picture of the larger human story.
Emotional fingerprint
Stories We Tell (2012) — Movie. Top emotional signals: Curiosity 30%, Nostalgia 25%, Empathy 20%. Source: AI estimate. Shares describe emotional signal, not percentages of people. Your experience may differ. How we measure
AI estimate · no viewer votes yet
How we measure
AI estimate
Share of emotional signal, not the percentage of people or a probability of enjoyment.
Each viewer contributes one response, split equally across their selected emotions. When available, an automated estimate supplies a prior that is blended with those responses. Counts include distinct viewers, not automated estimates or archived anonymous votes. Fewer than 3 viewers is an early estimate; more responses do not guarantee certainty.
Why it feels this way
The strongest emotional signals are Curiosity, Nostalgia, Empathy. Genres: Documentary. AI estimate.
Is it worth watching?
Consider this title if you are looking for Curiosity, Nostalgia and Empathy. Its IMDb rating of 7.5/10 suggests a generally positive audience reception. For these leading emotions, its Feel Score is 73/100.
How did it make you feel?
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Pick up to three · 0/3
Emotional journey
- Empathy
- Sadness
- Curiosity
Not enough subtitle evidence
No dominant emotion
Dominant emotion: Curiosity
Dominant emotion: Humor
Dominant emotion: Empathy
Dominant emotion: Sadness
Dominant emotion: Love
Dominant emotion
| % | Approximate minute | Dominant emotion | Overall intensity | Empathy | Sadness | Curiosity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 % | ≈ 3′ | Curiosity | 48 % | 18 % | 10 % | 47 % |
| 7.5 % | ≈ 8′ | Humor | 50 % | 26 % | 14 % | 45 % |
| 12.5 % | ≈ 14′ | Humor | 49 % | 38 % | 23 % | 40 % |
| 17.5 % | ≈ 19′ | Empathy | 50 % | 45 % | 33 % | 39 % |
| 22.5 % | ≈ 25′ | Sadness | 57 % | 53 % | 46 % | 41 % |
| 27.5 % | ≈ 30′ | Sadness | 64 % | 56 % | 53 % | 49 % |
| 32.5 % | ≈ 35′ | Curiosity | 63 % | 46 % | 36 % | 61 % |
| 37.5 % | ≈ 41′ | Curiosity | 59 % | 40 % | 24 % | 63 % |
| 42.5 % | ≈ 46′ | Empathy | 63 % | 54 % | 41 % | 48 % |
| 47.5 % | ≈ 52′ | Sadness | 70 % | 66 % | 61 % | 39 % |
| 52.5 % | ≈ 57′ | Sadness | 73 % | 61 % | 51 % | 48 % |
| 57.5 % | ≈ 63′ | Love | 74 % | 56 % | 36 % | 53 % |
| 62.5 % | ≈ 68′ | Empathy | 73 % | 63 % | 40 % | 48 % |
| 67.5 % | ≈ 74′ | Empathy | 66 % | 64 % | 44 % | 48 % |
| 72.5 % | ≈ 79′ | Sadness | 60 % | 51 % | 36 % | 53 % |
| 77.5 % | ≈ 84′ | Curiosity | 60 % | 46 % | 31 % | 54 % |
| 82.5 % | ≈ 90′ | Empathy | 68 % | 60 % | 49 % | 44 % |
| 87.5 % | ≈ 95′ | Sadness | 74 % | 69 % | 63 % | 31 % |
| 92.5 % | ≈ 101′ | Love | 73 % | 65 % | 53 % | 28 % |
| 97.5 % | ≈ 106′ | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence | Not enough subtitle evidence |
Oedipus
Rags to riches: The emotional tone rises from negative to positive.
Riches to rags: The emotional tone falls from positive to negative.
Man in a hole: The tone falls, then recovers.
Icarus: The tone rises, then falls.
Cinderella: The tone rises, falls, then rises again.
Oedipus: The tone falls, rises, then falls again.
AI reading of the film’s English subtitles (dialogue and sound cues) — not viewer votes. How we measure ↗
Kadri — your film companion
AIAsk anything about Stories We Tell. From the film’s own dialogue and FeelDB data, at your spoiler level.
Afterward Reveal viewer responses · may contain spoilers
Viewer responses about feelings after the title ended, separate from feelings while watching. No AI estimates.
0 responses so far
Feeling details appear after at least 3 viewers respond, to protect privacy.
Cast
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Storyteller
Diane Polley
Michael Polley
Harry Gulkin
Details
- Directed by
- Sarah Polley
- Written by
- Sarah Polley, Michael Polley
- Type
- Movies
- Released
- 2012
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Country
- Canada
- Genres
- Documentary
- Ratings
- Feels mostly
- Curiosity
- Data updated
Where to watch
Subscription
Free
Rent
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