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IMDbPro

The Tale

  • 2018
  • TV-MA
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Laura Dern and Isabelle Nélisse in The Tale (2018)
'The Tale' chronicles Jennifer's (Laura Dern) investigation into her own childhood memories, as she is forced to reexamine her first sexual experience -- and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.
Play trailer1:36
4 Videos
59 Photos
BiographyDramaMystery

A woman filming a documentary on childhood rape victims starts to question the nature of her childhood relationship with her riding instructor and running coach.A woman filming a documentary on childhood rape victims starts to question the nature of her childhood relationship with her riding instructor and running coach.A woman filming a documentary on childhood rape victims starts to question the nature of her childhood relationship with her riding instructor and running coach.

  • Director
    • Jennifer Fox
  • Writer
    • Jennifer Fox
  • Stars
    • Laura Dern
    • Jason Ritter
    • Common
  • See production, box office & company info
    • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    19K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jennifer Fox
    • Writer
      • Jennifer Fox
    • Stars
      • Laura Dern
      • Jason Ritter
      • Common
    • 85User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
    • 90Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 10 wins & 30 nominations total

    Videos4

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:36
    Watch Official Trailer
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 0:16
    Watch Teaser Trailer
    'The Tale' a Cautionary Story About Sexual Abuse for Hollywood and Beyond
    Video 5:01
    Watch 'The Tale' a Cautionary Story About Sexual Abuse for Hollywood and Beyond
    'The Tale' Director on Collaborating With Laura Dern for Powerful Film Memoir
    Video 2:43
    Watch 'The Tale' Director on Collaborating With Laura Dern for Powerful Film Memoir

    Photos59

    Common in The Tale (2018)
    Jason Ritter and Isabelle Nélisse in The Tale (2018)
    Laura Dern in The Tale (2018)
    Ellen Burstyn in The Tale (2018)
    Jason Ritter and Elizabeth Debicki in The Tale (2018)
    Jason Ritter, Isabella Amara, and Jessica Sarah Flaum in The Tale (2018)
    Laura Dern and Isabelle Nélisse in The Tale (2018)
    Elizabeth Debicki and Isabelle Nélisse in The Tale (2018)
    Jennifer Fox in The Tale (2018)
    Jennifer Fox, John Cooper, and Clare Binns at an event for The Tale (2018)
    Jennifer Fox at an event for The Tale (2018)
    Sol Bondy, Jennifer Fox, Laura Rister, and Reka Posta at an event for The Tale (2018)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Laura Dern
    Laura Dern
    • Jennifer
    Jason Ritter
    Jason Ritter
    • Bill
    Common
    Common
    • Martin
    Elizabeth Debicki
    Elizabeth Debicki
    • Mrs. G
    Jessica Sarah Flaum
    Jessica Sarah Flaum
    • Jenny (15 Years)
    Laura Allen
    Laura Allen
    • Young Nettie
    Juli Erickson
    Juli Erickson
    • Grandmother
    Matthew Rauch
    Matthew Rauch
    • Aaron
    Ellen Burstyn
    Ellen Burstyn
    • Nettie
    John Heard
    John Heard
    • William P. Allens
    Dana Healey
    • Dr. G.
    Aaron Williamson
    • Raymond (Ray)
    Shay Lee Abeson
    Shay Lee Abeson
    • Young Becky
    Isabella Amara
    Isabella Amara
    • Young Franny
    Jodi Long
    Jodi Long
    • Rebecca
    Isabelle Nélisse
    Isabelle Nélisse
    • Jenny (13 Years)
    Daniel Berson
    Daniel Berson
    • Joe
    Chelsea Alden
    Chelsea Alden
    • Samantha
    • Director
      • Jennifer Fox
    • Writer
      • Jennifer Fox
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Given the movie's sensitive subject matter, all potentially inappropriate scenes involving a minor were actually filmed with an adult body double - as noted by a title card at the end of the film. Moreover, Isabelle Nélisse (young Jenny)'s mother was on set with her, a child psychologist was on the set, and a Screen Actors Guild representative was on set. Nelisse was never in contact with Jason Ritter (Bill) at all, and for scenes where it looked like she was lying down, she was actually standing in front of a vertical bed.
    • Goofs
      The film is set in the year 2008 but the technical devices such as Apple iPhone, iMac and Macbook are from 2015, when filming took place.
    • Quotes

      Jennifer: I couldn't ask for help. I was waiting for you to save me. Somehow in my mind, it couldn't be anybody else. It had to be you. Why didn't you?

      Mrs. G: No one saved me.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      So Far Away
      Written and Performed by Carole King
      Courtesy of CK Masters, LLC

    User reviews85

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Masterpiece
    This is a masterpiece. Jennifer Fox is a genius. Writing and directing? Amazing. And, apparently, she actually wrote the story at age 13 that this movie is based on. Wow. The directing is so subtle, the mixture of past and present, the interaction of the characters, the woman and her mother. Stellar performances by all.

    P.S. The subject matter, sexual abuse of a minor, is not everyone's cup of tea. If you're offended by it, or don't think it's important enough to have its own movie, don't watch "The Tale." I wasn't familiar with it until I became a therapist, but now I know it occurs and is a devastating and life-altering experience. This movie handles it fantastically. But if you don't want to see a film about it, don't watch this movie.

    Jennifer Fox, you are brilliant. Please keep going. Have you got another one of these for us?
    helpful•66
    19
    • mathomas-28053
    • Jun 29, 2018

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 27, 2018 (Bulgaria)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Germany
    • Official sites
      • HBO (United States)
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • ذا تيل
    • Filming locations
      • Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Gamechanger Films
      • A Luminous Mind Production
      • Untitled Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Laura Dern and Isabelle Nélisse in The Tale (2018)
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