Watch The Tale

The Tale is a 2018 dramatic film directed by Jennifer Fox, based on her own life story. The film stars Laura Dern as Jennifer, a successful documentary filmmaker who delves into her past upon receiving a short story she wrote as a 13-year-old from her mother. As she reads through the story, memories emerge that force her to confront the truth about her relationship with two adults who became a significant part of her life during the summer of 1973.

The film is a powerful exploration of memory and how it shapes our understanding of ourselves, our past, and the world around us. The story unfolds through multiple narratives, including present-day conversations with Jennifer's mother and former lover, her childhood memories, and sequences of dreamlike imagery that capture the uncertainty and confusion of the past.

Throughout the film, Jennifer's experiences challenge conventional notions of consent and offer a critique of the ways in which sexual abuse and manipulation are often dismissed or normalized. As she navigates the complexities of her own experiences, Jennifer must also confront the ways in which her memory has been shaped by the adults who were meant to protect her.

Laura Dern delivers a powerful performance as Jennifer, capturing both the vulnerability and the strength of a woman confronting the darkest parts of her past. Jason Ritter and Common deliver strong supporting performances as the men who played a significant role in Jennifer's life, portraying the nuances of their characters with depth and complexity.

The film is shot in a fluid, non-linear style that moves seamlessly between past and present, dream and reality, capturing the fragmented nature of memory and the ways in which trauma can reshape our understanding of the world. The cinematography is hauntingly beautiful, capturing the beauty and the darkness of the natural landscape that serves as the backdrop for Jennifer's memories.

The Tale is a deeply affecting film that offers a powerful meditation on the nature of memory and the complexities of trauma. It is a courageous exploration of a difficult and often taboo subject, one that offers a stark reminder of the importance of addressing the legacies of abuse and the ways in which we can confront the past to create a brighter future.

The Tale is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 90.