Those Little White Words

If there is one sentence that makes my heart swoon, it is:

BASED ON A TRUE STORY

Any time I see that sentence, I am so there.  I don’t know what it is about a movie which is based on a true story that causes me to be that much more interested, that much more involved and that much more compelled to know more.

I guess it is the skeptic in me that draws me in, because fictional events are all too easy to dismiss.  And although fictional movies can (and do) effect me emotionally, it is rare that I am inspired by them or gain any strength from them. But if there are facts involved, with real people and real events with actual outcomes, then I am inspired, outraged, moved and motivated all the more.  Fictional characters, no matter how realistically they are portrayed, can not reach me in quite the same way.

Take fairy tales for example. Like everyone else, I grew up with the basic princess stories about beautiful women who defy their birthright, conquer the odds, outshine all others and succeed in the end.  However, once I got older I tossed those stories aside.  They were fairy tales after all and nothing more. How can you take them seriously when we all know such things don’t actually happen in real life?  But then I saw a movie about Grace Kelly.  A beautiful girl born into Philadelphia’s high society, who defied her blue blood upbringing to pursue an acting career. She quickly became a famous and glamorous Hollywood icon who eventually married a handsome prince.  And that shit really happened. Her story brought more magic and sparkle into my world than a thousand Cinderella or Snow Whites could ever muster.

So yeah, tell me it’s based on a true story and my ears suddenly perk right up. I have spent more rainy days than I care to admit glued to the Lifetime channel crying my eyes out in sorrow, shaking my fist in fury and humbled by the purest acts of humanity. 

But the best part about watching these movies is they don’t leave you hanging.  Almost every movie with a tagline BASED ON A TRUE STORY gives you some sense of closure once it ends.

And that closure comes in the form of those little white words.

Those brief, but powerful paragraphs that scroll across your screen after all is said and done, wrapping up the past two hours of events like a lovely satin ribbon sewn out of the fabric of reality.

“So-and-so died peacefully in his/her sleep x years later. Thanks to his/her work and perseverance, only x number of people have died from y in the United States since 19xx.”

“So-and-so was eventually found living under an assumed name in Central America and brought back to the US to stand trial. He/she was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. He/she will be up for parole in 20xx. The body of So-and-so’s was never found.”

“In such-and-such year, a bill was passed that would protect all y’s who are victims of z’s. That bill is known as So-and-So’s Law.”

Oh, be still my heart.  

{I had to write this post after watching the remake of Sybil (on Lifetime, of course).  Throughout the two hours of watching, I kept saying how much I liked the original movie better. Until the white words showed up.  So much had changed since Sally Field had played the title role in 1976. For one, we now know the real identity of Sybil, as well as what a talented artist she was.  In the end, because of the end, the remake redeemed itself.}

Comments

[passions and soapboxes]

Yeah it kinda gets to me too. I love trivial facts and you can only get those in 'based on an actual true story" movies. Of course they are only loosely based and some things may have been changed to make a better movie. Still like the original Sybil the best and I like the book even better.