True Stories
True Stories are those based (sometimes loosely!) on fact. They cover topics as diverse as drug addiction, poverty, political unrest, the corruption of power, alcoholism, class divisions, sexual inequality, mental illness and other human struggles. Meet some of history's most intriguing characters, find out what it's really like to climb a mountain or paint a masterpiece. Truly, the True Story is one of cinema's most engaging and enthralling genres.
Bio-pics feature in this section and are also gathered together separately under the 'Biography' sublink left.
Pictured: Inside the Las Vegas mob, Scorsese's unromantic 'Goodfellas'
Proud (2004)
5.8/10
Director: Mary Pat Kelly
Starring: Ossie Davis, Denise Nicholas, Albert Jones, Eric Laray Harvey, Darnell Williams,...
The inspirational tale of the USS Mason comes to the screen in a dramatic account of the perils faced by the all-African-American-crewed World War II... Read more
Provoked (2006)
6.6/10
Director: Jag Mundhra
Starring: Miranda Richardson, Naveen Andrews, Rebecca Pidgeon, Robbie Coltrane, Nandita Da...
Based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a Punjabi housewife living in London who killed her husband after ten years of domestic abuse. The Lon... Read more
Public Enemies (2009)
7/10
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, Giovanni Ribisi,...
Johnny Depp plays Depression-era, celebrity gangster John Dillinger, in Michael Mann's bio-pic. Christian Bale co-stars as the ambitious Agent Purvis... Read more
Public Enemies ( Blu-ray ) (2009)
7/10
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Billy Crudup, Christian Bale, David Wenham, Giovanni Ribisi, Johnny Depp, Stephe...
Johnny Depp plays Depression-era, celebrity gangster John Dillinger, in Michael Mann's bio-pic. Christian Bale co-stars as the ambitious Agent Purvis... Read more
Queen Margot ( La Reine Margot ) (1994)
7.5/10
Director: Patrice Chereau
Starring: Isabelle Adjani, Daniel Auteuil, Vincent Perez, Jean-Hugues Anglade
An intelligent and moving epic based on a Dumas' novel of the events surrounding the notorious St Bartholemew's Day massacre in 16th Century France. T... Read more
Queen of the Desert (2015)
5.7/10
Director: Werner Herzog
Starring: Jenny Agutter, Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Damian Lewis, Robert Pattinson
A true story of the life of British explorer and adventurer, Gertrude Bell, Queen Of The Desert chronicles her journeys of love and loss in the Middle... Read more
Queen of the Desert (Blu-ray) (2015)
5.7/10
Director: Werner Herzog
Starring: Jenny Agutter, Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Damian Lewis, Robert Pattinson
A true story of the life of British explorer and adventurer, Gertrude Bell, Queen Of The Desert chronicles her journeys of love and loss in the Middle... Read more
Quiz Show (1994)
7.5/10
Director: Robert Redford
Starring: John Turturro, Rob Morrow, Ralph Fiennes
A fascinating film based on a real life scandal caused by a television quiz show. A disgruntled ex-champ (John Turturro) tells exactly how the show wa... Read more
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)
7.5/10
Director: Phillip Noyce
Starring: Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan, David Gulpilil, Kenneth Branagh
Set in 1930s outback Australia, this is the true story of three Aboriginal girls who are snatched from their mothers' arms in Jigalong, Western Austra... Read more
Race (2016)
7.1/10
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Starring: Jeremy Irons, William Hurt, Carice Van Houten, Jason Sudeikis, Stephan James
The incredible true story of Olympic legend Jesse Owens is vividly brought to life in Race. In his epic quest to be the greatest athlete in history, O... Read more