As a general principle, I believe films are the wrong medium for fact. Fact belongs in print. Films are about emotions. My notion is that JFK is no more, or less, factual than Stone's Nixon or Gandhi, Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Amistad, Out of Africa, My Dog Skip or any other movie based on 'real life.' All we can reasonably ask is that it be skillfully made and seem to approach some kind of emotional truth.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Films prioritize emotional truth over factual accuracy regardless of real life claims.
- In plain terms
- Movies are about feelings, not hard facts like books.
- What can you take from it?
- Judge historical films by emotional truth not just facts.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does factual accuracy matter in drama?
- How is emotional truth measured?
Another view
Some viewers need factual precision regardless of medium.
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