Stories We Tell(2012) Apr 2026

The documentary is structured as an investigation where Polley interviews her siblings, her father Michael, and friends of her mother to piece together Diane’s life. Diane passed away from cancer when Sarah was only 11, leaving behind a legacy of vibrant energy and hidden layers.

: The film is as much about how we tell stories as it is about the story itself. Polley includes shots of herself directing the interviews and her father in the recording booth, emphasizing the artifice involved in constructing any narrative. Critical Legacy and Themes Stories We Tell(2012)

: The film highlights how each person’s version of the past is shaped by their own perspective, suggesting that "truth" is often ephemeral and subjective. The documentary is structured as an investigation where

Polley later won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for her 2022 film Women Talking , further cementing her status as a premiere voice in modern storytelling. Polley includes shots of herself directing the interviews

: To fill the gaps where no footage existed, Polley filmed elaborate re-creations using Super-8 film. These sequences, featuring actors like Rebecca Jenkins as Diane, are so authentic that they are often indistinguishable from real family memories.

Since its debut at the Venice Film Festival, "Stories We Tell" has been hailed as a masterwork of personal cinema.