The Tale is a drama film released in 2018 and directed by Jennifer Fox, who also wrote the screenplay. The film is based on the director's own experiences as a child and her struggle to come to terms with her past.
The story follows Jennifer, a successful documentary filmmaker who is forced to re-examine her past when her mother discovers a story Jennifer wrote when she was 13 years old about a relationship she had with her running coach, Bill, who was in his 40s. Jennifer had always believed the relationship was consensual and even romantic, but as she revisits her memories and talks to people from her past, she begins to realize that the relationship was in fact abusive and manipulative.
As Jennifer delves deeper into her memories, the film shifts back and forth between her present-day life and her past experiences with Bill. The film explores how memory can be warped and how we often tell ourselves stories in order to survive traumatic events. It also examines the power dynamics at play in relationships and the ways in which abusers can manipulate their victims.
The Tale features an ensemble cast of talented actors, including Laura Dern as Jennifer, Elizabeth Debicki as the adult version of Jennifer's younger self, Jason Ritter as Bill, and Ellen Burstyn as Jennifer's mother. The film received critical acclaim for its powerful and nuanced portrayal of a difficult subject matter and was praised for Dern's outstanding performance.