The Tale
A drama about the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive
2018 | Running Time: 114 minutes | Rating: TV-MA
THE TALE begins when documentarian Jennifer Fox’s (Laura Dern) mother (Ellen Burstyn) finds a short story written by Jennifer years earlier as a thirteen-year-old middle-school student. The story details her relationship with her riding instructor (Elizabeth Debicki) and running coach (Jason Ritter). Confused, Jennifer sets out to find answers from those involved. She’d always looked back at that time with fondness, but the more she learns, the more her memories shift and the questions she unearths become life-altering. A narrative feature based on the director’s own life story, THE TALE builds a dialogue between the past and present to create a meditation on the connections between memory and trauma. The film premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Director/Producer/Writer: Jennifer Fox; Starring: Laura Dern; Producers: Sol Bondy, Lawrence Inglee, Mynette Louie, Oren Moverman, Simone Pero, Reka Posta, Laura Rister, Regina K. Scully, Lynda Weinman; Executive Producers: Julie Parker Benello, Dan Cogan, Geralyn Dreyfous, Wendy Ettinger, Abigail E. Disney, Robert & Penny Fox, Jayme Lemons, Amy Rodrigue, Ali Jazayeri, Jason Van Eman, David Van Eman, Ross Marroso, Ben McConley
Jennifer Fox, Director
Jennifer Fox is an award winning director, producer, writer, and cinematographer. THE TALE (2018) was her first narrative feature, based upon her own life story. Her other acclaimed films include BEIRUT: THE LAST HOME MOVIE (1987) and MY REINCARNATION (2011).
Golden Globes 2019: Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television (nomination)
Sundance Film Festival 2018: Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic (nomination)
Primetime Emmy Awards 2018: Outstanding Made for Television Movie (nomination), Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie (nomination)
Film Independent Spirit Awards 2019: Best First Screenplay (nomination), Best First Feature (nomination), Best Editing (nomination)
Cinema Eye Honors Awards 2019: Heterodox Award (nomination)
Gotham Awards 2018: Audience Award (nomination), Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award (nomination)
CHILD USA 2018: Public Educator Award
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2019 Best Movie Made for TV (nomination), Best Actress in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series (nomination), Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Limited Series (nomination)
Online Film & Television Association Awards 2018 Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series, Best Motion Picture (nomination), Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Limited Series (nomination), Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series (nomination), Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Limited Series (nomination), Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Limited Series (nomination)
Television Critics Association Awards 2018: Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials (nominations)
Satellite Awards 2018: Best Motion Picture Made for Television (nomination), Best Actress in a Miniseries & Limited Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television (nomination)
Durban International Film Festival 2018: Best Editing, Best Screenplay
Gold Derby Awards 2018: TV Movie (nomination), Movie/Limited Series Actress (nomination)
Deauville Film Festival 2018: Grand Special Prize (nomination)
Melbourne International Film Festival 2018: People’s Choice Award – Best Narrative Feature (Nomination)
Munich Film Festival 2018: ARRI/OSRAM Award for Best International Film (nomination)
“This deliberately paced, remarkable exploration about sexual abuse, consent and way we second-guess ourselves is the mother of all #MeToo movies.”
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Tags: Drama, Feature, Biography, Sexual Violence & Abuse, Personal POV, Gender