Stories We Tell

film by Polley [2012]

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July 21, 2026

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Stories We Tell is a 2012 documentary film directed and written by Sarah Polley. The film explores Polley's own family history, focusing on the stories her parents and their friends tell about her mother's past.12

The documentary uses a blend of interviews with family members, archival footage, and re-enactments to piece together a complex and often contradictory narrative. Polley's directorial approach in Stories We Tell is noted for its personal and introspective nature, characteristic of her work in documentary filmmaking. The film delves into themes of memory, truth, and the subjective nature of storytelling.23

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Sarah Polley
…film, the highly personal documentary Stories We Tell (2012), which explored the nuances of her family’s history. In addition to winning the Genie Award for Best Feature Length Documentary, it was named best documentary of the year by numerous critics and organizations. Polley later cowrote the TV miniseries Alias Grace…
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…film, the highly personal documentary Stories We Tell (2012), which explored the nuances of her family’s history. In addition to winning the Genie Award for Best Feature Length Documentary, it was named best documentary of the year by numerous critics and organizations. Polley later cowrote the TV miniseries Alias Grace…
Read More