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The Tale

Play trailer 1:34 Poster for The Tale 2018 1h 54m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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99% Tomatometer 81 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Jennifer has it all, with a loving boyfriend and a great career as a journalist and professor. But when her mother discovers a story - "The Tale" - that Jennifer wrote when she was 13, detailing a special relationship Jennifer had with two adult coaches, Jennifer returns to the Carolina horse farm where the events transpired to try to reconcile her version of events with the truth.
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The Tale

The Tale

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Critics Consensus

The Tale handles its extraordinarily challenging subject matter with sensitivity, grace, and the power of some standout performances led by a remarkable Laura Dern.

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Critics Reviews

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Hannah Strong Little White Lies Jennifer Fox's autobiographical debut makes for harrowing but essential viewing. Dec 19, 2018 Full Review Robert Daniels 812filmreviews For Fox, and for all of us, The Tale is a spot in time worth finding. Rated: 3/4 Aug 27, 2018 Full Review Verne Gay Newsday Jenny's reluctance to stare down the horror gives "The Tale" an ineluctable psychological power. Aug 23, 2018 Full Review Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope Laura Dern, Common, Isabelle Nélisse, Burstyn, Debicki and Ritter all give strong, convincing, performances in this film, creating these strong relationships between these diverse characters. This is a powerful drama, well written, directed and acted. Rated: A Feb 18, 2023 Full Review Taylor Baker Drink in the Movies ...that she will always be damaged and telling herself a story to cope. Rated: 78/100 Aug 22, 2021 Full Review Milana Vujkov Lola On Film On how abuse comes not in the guise of the obviously monstrous, but through the beautiful, deceitful object of affection. Rated: 4/5 Jul 29, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (65) audience reviews
Steve D I am not crazy about the structure but the cast does great work. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/07/24 Full Review Eric L Zero wasn't an option. Slow and boring. Skip the first 40 minutes and it might be good, that's about how long I lasted. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 12/25/23 Full Review Aaron S There's a heaviness to The Tale that is inescapable and suffocating. The reshaping of Jennifer Fox's memory as it comes into focus becomes more and more harrowing and she delves deeper. The sole breath of fresh air being reserved for its final moments accurately reflects the terror of the story and Laura Dern's confrontation scene with the Home Alone dad is exhilarating. I want very much for this to be as critical of a watch as it should be (and still really is) without feeling the need to point to its acting and tonal inconsistencies and made for tv-esque qualities. Despite what I found to be shortcomings in the viewing experience specifically, this true story is a devastating yet vital watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/10/23 Full Review Michael S It is one thing to speak about this kind of horror, it is something else entirely to attempt to make it look loving and romantic and presented with soft music. Can you seriously not see the difference? The movie is normalizing rape and grooming. On the other hand, Pedos will love it. If you like to watch romanticized scenes of grown men having sex with prepubescent girls, this is one for you. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 07/17/23 Full Review Ozitofer 9 Le pido a TODO EL MUNDO deshágase de HBO, HBO Max, HBO Mundi y todo lo relacionado con esta empresa. Están "NORMALIZANDO y NATURALIZANDO" la PEDOFILIA. Si estas en contra de estos actos aberrantes, DESAFILIATE DE HBO Y DEJA DE SUBSIDIARLOS CON TU PAGO MENSUAL. CON LOS NIÑOS NO¡¡¡ Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/17/23 Full Review Ellie F What I liked most about this movie was the complexity of survivors of child abuse. I was married to a man who was sexually abused by his father until he was about 8. He did not even know it was abuse until he was at a boy scout campout and the kids in the tent next door were talking about his father who was a scout leader. He broke up the relationship much the way the character in the movie did by telling his father to never touch him again and he never did. He did love his father though and, unfortunately, developed some of his cruelty, though he was brilliant and funny. I admire the honesty in this movie. I know the writer has not divulged the perpetrators, but I suspect they and others recognize who they are. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Tale

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jennifer has it all, with a loving boyfriend and a great career as a journalist and professor. But when her mother discovers a story - "The Tale" - that Jennifer wrote when she was 13, detailing a special relationship Jennifer had with two adult coaches, Jennifer returns to the Carolina horse farm where the events transpired to try to reconcile her version of events with the truth.
Director
Jennifer Fox
Producer
Laura Rister, Jennifer Fox, Sol Bondy, Lawrence Inglee, Mynette Louie, Oren Moverman, Simone Pero, Regina K. Scully
Screenwriter
Jennifer Fox
Production Co
One Two Films, Gamechanger Films, Blackbird Films, Untitled Entertainment
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 27, 2018
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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