The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more
Skip to content Accessibility
New release
Coming 
None

Stories We Tell

2012 1 h 48 min
Leaving soon

This feature documentary is an inspired, genre-twisting film directed by Oscar®-nominee Sarah Polley. Polley's playful investigation into the elusive truth buried within the contradictions of a family of storytellers paints a touching and intriguing portrait of a complex network of relatives, friends, and strangers.

This content is not available for free viewing in your location.
Your rental expires on
None
You've already purchased this film.
Download it from My purchases.
Not available
Share
Stories We Tell

Extras

Details

This feature documentary is an inspired, genre-twisting film directed by Oscar®-nominee Sarah Polley. Polley's playful investigation into the elusive truth buried within the contradictions of a family of storytellers paints a touching and intriguing portrait of a complex network of relatives, friends, and strangers.

Film and Video Arts All subjects
  • participant
    Michael Polley
    Harry Gulkin
    Susy Buchan
    John Buchan
    Mark Polley
    Joanna Polley
    Cathy Gulkin
    Marie Murphy
    Robert MacMillan
    Anne Tait
    Deirdre Bowen
    Victoria Mitchell
    Mort Ransen
    Geoffrey Bowes
    Tom Butler
    Pixie Bigelow
    Claire Walker
  • cast
    Rebecca Jenkins
    Peter Evans
    Alex Hatz
    Justin Goodhand
    Seamus Morrison
    Allie MacDonald
    Lani Billard
    Andrew Church
    Dave Kiner
    Jef Mallory
    Kristen Corvers
    Christine Horne
    Jeanie Calleja
    James Downing
    Tracey Ferencz
    Eric Hanson
    Kaylin Griffin
    Mairtin O'Carrigan
    Thomas Hauff
  • writer
    Sarah Polley
  • director
    Sarah Polley
  • producer
    Anita Lee
  • executive producer
    Silva Basmajian
  • editor
    Michael Munn
  • director of photography
    Iris Ng
  • sound recordist
    Sanjay Mehta
  • production designer
    Lea Carlson
  • costume designer
    Sarah Armstrong
  • music arrangement
    Jonathan Goldsmith
  • casting
    John Buchan
    Jason Knight
  • narration writer
    Michael Polley
  • production supervisor
    Mark Wilson
  • production manager
    Janine Heath
  • 1st assistant director
    Dave Forsyth
  • post-production supervisor
    Lorraine Samuel
  • production coordinator
    Kate Vollum
    Christine Kleckner
  • set production coordinator
    Jennifer Mesich
  • technical coordinator
    Marcus Matyas
  • 1st assistant camera
    Eva Percewicz
  • additional camera work
    Marcus Matyas
    Bob, Sr. Gordon
    David Sandomierski
    Sarah Polley
    Sanjay Mehta
    Christine Kleckner
    Hugh McJanet
  • makeup
    Sarah Craig-McEathron
  • hairstylist
    Josie Stewart
  • gaffer
    Hugh McJanet
    Walter Klymkiw
  • best boy electric
    Alejandro Munoz-Hernandez
  • daily gaffer
    Kendall McColl
  • key grip
    Zach Zohr
  • electric
    Adam Crosby
  • grip
    Sean Harvey
    Christopher Logan
  • swing
    Michael Wilde
  • props master
    Paul Vernon
  • set decorator
    David Gruer
  • set dresser
    Sasha Tolstoy
    Stephen Depko
  • buyer
    Deirdre Morris
  • makeup assistant
    Alister Muir
    Teena Black
  • daily makeup
    Alister Muir
    Teena Black
  • hair assistant
    Lily Champniss
    Lucy Orton
  • daily hair
    Lily Champniss
    Lucy Orton
  • costume assistant
    Nola Chaters
    Adrienne Baker
  • set production assistant
    Missy Dingman
    Matthew Hunwicks
  • production assistant
    Graeme Brown
    Ryan Buller
    Adam Belanger
  • location manager
    Roman Martyn
    Eardley Wilmot
  • assistant location manager
    Marc Cunningham
    Fernando Da Silva
  • centre administrator
    Josiah Rothenberg
  • marketing manager
    Kelley Alexander
  • unit publicist
    Cynthia Amsden
  • stills photography
    Michael Gibson
    Ken Woroner
  • background casting
    Nancy Harrison
  • interview producer
    Sonia Hosko
  • interview sound recording
    David Rose
  • visual researcher
    Elizabeth Klinck
  • music clearances
    Elizabeth Klinck
  • location scout
    Catherine Crawford
  • generator driver
    Chris Rowles
  • driver
    Paul Brideau
  • craft service
    Stephanie Dagg
    Dawn Weaver
  • dailies colourist
    Josh Olive
  • project manager
    Michelle Morris
  • digital intermediate colourist
    Mark Kueper
  • film timer
    Joscelyn Goode
  • sales executive/rep
    Grace Carnale-Davis
  • technical operations project manager
    Brian Reid
  • digital intermediate producer
    Darcy Arthurs
  • digital film supervisor
    Andrew Pascoe
  • digital intermediate online editor
    Rob Gyorgy
  • digital film technician
    Margaret Mansell
  • supervising sound editor
    Dave Rose
  • dialogue editor
    Barry Gilmore
    Krystin Hunter
  • re-recording mixer
    Lou Solakofski
    Joe Morrow
  • mix operator
    Shawn Dickey
  • audio coordinator
    Mandy Ley
  • title design
    Julia Brown
  • additional dailies
    Justin Lovell

Enjoy the NFB experience on your favourite device

Roku Apple TV Fire TV Android TV Apple App Store Google Play Store

Education

Ages 15 to 18
School subjects
Family Studies/Home Economics - Family Diversity and Challenges Health/Personal Development - Healthy Relationships Media Education - Documentary Film
Through a unique documentary approach, Stories We Tell highlights the unreliability of memory. The film also questions whether we tell personal stories for others or for ourselves, and whether our stories remain authentic when we know we are being filmed. How much does Sarah Polley know about the story she is about to be “told” when she sets out to make the film? Sarah’s mother Diane is the one character who does not have a “voice” in the film: How does this situation affect the story? Content guide: Language, mature themes
Stories We Tell
Purchase options
Also available
DVD
Licence information
Already paid to see this film?
Licencing information

Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

You may download this film for private, personal or classroom use only. Public screenings and institutional (non-educational institutions) uses are not permitted. Download films in standard or high definition. (Please note that bonus materials are not available for DTO films.) You can copy each file up to 5 (five) times, onto various devices. DTO films cannot be hosted on a streaming server. To add DTO films to an institutional or educational streaming server, please contact a sales agent to discuss pricing.

Institutional licence

The institutional price includes the rights to screen this film in institutional settings and in free public screenings.

Explore