The Tale

The Tale is a 2018 American drama film written and directed by Jennifer Fox and starring Laura Dern, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Ritter, Elizabeth Debicki, Isabelle Nélisse, Common, Frances Conroy, and John Heard. It tells the story about Fox's own childhood sexual abuse and how it affects her later relationships. It premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival[1][2] and aired on HBO on May 26, 2018.[3]

The Tale
Film release poster
Directed byJennifer Fox
Produced by
Screenplay byJennifer Fox
Starring
Music byAriel Marx
Cinematography
Edited by
  • Alex Hall
  • Gary Levy
  • Anne Fabini
Production
company
Distributed byHBO Films
Release date
  • January 20, 2018 (2018-01-20) (Sundance)
  • May 26, 2018 (2018-05-26) (United States)
Running time
114 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Jennifer Fox is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and professor in her 40s when her mother, Nettie, calls her in alarm after discovering an essay she wrote when she was 13. The essay is about a "relationship" Jennifer had when she was 13 which she dismisses as upsetting her mother because her boyfriend was "older".

After re-reading the essay Jennifer begins to do research on that period in her life. She imagines herself as being older and sophisticated but is surprised at how small and childlike she appears in photos from that time. Jennifer's relationship began one summer when she went to an intensive horse training camp with three other girls. She lived with the beautiful and enigmatic Mrs. G, who also had Jenny and the girls run with professional coach Bill Allens, who was in his 40s. After the summer ends Mrs. G and Bill reveal to Jenny they are lovers.

After the camp, Jenny kept her horse with Mrs. G and continued to see her and Bill on the weekends. Eventually Jenny began spending time with Bill alone. He began sexually grooming her, until finally statutory-raping her, telling her that they were “making love”.

When Jennifer's partner finds letters written to her by Bill, he says that she was raped, but she refuses to see it that way, proclaiming that she is not a victim. However she slowly begins to question whether her recollections are accurate and eventually realizes despite her protests she had been exhibiting symptoms of being sexually abused for years. She goes to visit Mrs. G, who refuses to acknowledge her role in Jenny's abuse and asks her to leave.

As Jennifer continues to investigate that summer, she realizes that Bill and Mrs. G were probably grooming other girls. She remembers a college student named Iris Rose who worked for Mrs. G. Jennifer tracks Iris Rose down who tells her that she, Mrs. G and Bill had threesomes and that Mrs. G was actively involved in finding girls for Bill. This prompts Jennifer to remember that she was supposed to participate in group sex with Mrs. G, Bill and Iris one weekend. However Jenny, who threw up each time she was raped by Bill, had an anxiety attack and threw up the day before she was due to go away for the weekend, causing her mother to keep her at home. Realizing she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with Bill, Jenny called him and broke up with him, even as he pleaded with her to stay. Unlike Bill, Mrs. G coldly accepted Jenny's decision to remove her horse that weekend. Jenny wrote about her time with Bill in an essay for school (calling it a work of fiction) in which she proclaimed herself a hero, not a victim; this is the essay her mother finds at the beginning of the film.

Jennifer goes to an awards ceremony where Bill is being honored to confront him, spelling out the abuse in front of his wife and the other attendees. Bill denies everything and leaves. Jennifer has a panic attack and goes to the bathroom, and imagines sitting with her 13-year old self.

Cast

Production

On May 5, 2015, it was reported that Laura Dern, Ellen Burstyn, Elizabeth Debicki, and Sebastian Koch would star in The Tale, written and directed by Jennifer Fox. It was set to begin principal photography that summer.[4] On May 14, 2016, it was reported that the film was being shopped to foreign buyers at the Cannes Film Festival, and Common, Jason Ritter, Frances Conroy, and John Heard were announced as also being part of the cast.[5] Filming began in Louisiana on October 20, 2015 and wrapped in December.[6]

Release

In January 2018, HBO Films acquired distribution rights to the film.[7] It premiered on HBO on May 26, 2018.[3]

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 99% based on 71 reviews, with an average rating of 9/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The Tale handles its extraordinarily challenging subject matter with sensitivity, grace, and the power of some standout performances led by a remarkable Laura Dern."[8] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 90 out of 100, based on 26 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[9]

Accolades
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2018 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Television Movie The Tale Nominated [10]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Laura Dern Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards Best First Feature Jennifer Fox, Sol Bondy, Lawrence Inglee, Mynette Louie, Oren Moverman, Simone Pero, Reka Posta, Laura Rister, Regina K. Scully and Lynda Weinman Nominated [11]
Best First Screenplay Jennifer Fox Nominated
Best Editing Anne Fabini, Alex Hall and Gary Levy Nominated
2019 Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Laura Dern Nominated [12]
Satellite Awards Best Television Film The Tale Won [13]
Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Film Laura Dern Nominated
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References
  1. Debruge, Peter (November 29, 2017). "Sundance Film Festival Unveils Full 2018 Features Lineup". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  2. "The Tale". Sundance Film Festival. The Sundance Institute. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  3. Nolfi, Joey (April 9, 2018). "Laura Dern sexual abuse drama The Tale gets HBO premiere date". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  4. Tartaglione, Nancy (May 5, 2015). "Mongrel Boards Laura Dern-Starrer 'The Tale'; Camera d'Or Jury Set – Cannes Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  5. Siegel, Tatiana (May 14, 2016). "Cannes: Laura Dern, Ellen Burstyn, Common Head Up Cast for Jennifer Fox's 'The Tale' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  6. https://www.screendaily.com/news/germanys-one-two-films-to-co-produce-laura-dern-starrer-the-tale/5095700.article
  7. Galuppo, Mia; Lee, Ashley (January 26, 2018). "Sundance: Laura Dern Drama 'The Tale' Nabbed by HBO Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  8. "The Tale (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  9. "The Tale Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  10. "Emmys.com list of 2018 Nominees & Winners". Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  11. Warren, Matt. "These Are Your 2019 Film Independent Spirit Award Nominees!". Filmindependent.org. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  12. "Golden Globe Awards for 'Tale, The'". Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  13. "2018 Awards Nominees". International Press Academy. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
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