Overview
A whimsical journey through a quirky Texas town, filled with music and laughter.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- dreamy
- witty
- affectionate
- lazy afternoon
- music movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a disarmingly big-hearted and dreamy vision of Americana whose kitschy style may not appeal to everyone.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Virgil, Texas is presented as a fictionalized, highly stylized community populated by eccentric residents and civic spectacle.
David Byrne’s narrator visits Virgil and introduces its people and customs as though conducting a personal tour.
The film combines Byrne’s musical sensibility with character-centered scenes and performances around the town celebration.
The critical consensus specifically identifies the film’s kitschy, dreamy, and big-hearted vision of Americana.
Films like True Stories, and why
Lars and the Real Girl
whimsical small-town Americana, eccentric residents, and deadpan observational comedy
The Young Girls of Rochefort
surreal musical comedy, fourth-wall playfulness, and affectionate portraits of ordinary communities
Napoleon Dynamite
offbeat ensemble storytelling, stylized Americana, and quirky character-driven humor
Movie Details
- Director
- David Byrne
- Release Date
- 1986-10-10
- Runtime
- 89 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (150)
Cast
- David Byrne
- John Goodman
- Annie McEnroe
- Jo Harvey Allen
- Spalding Gray
- Alix Elias
- Roebuck 'Pops' Staples
- Tito Larriva
- John Ingle
- Matthew Posey
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is True Stories about?
- David Byrne’s dreamy musical portrait of a fictional Texas town turns eccentric citizens, civic spectacle, and the search for love into affectionate Americana.
- What is True Stories like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of True Stories as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as layered.
- Is True Stories violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in True Stories.
- What did critics think of True Stories?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a disarmingly big-hearted and dreamy vision of Americana whose kitschy style may not appeal to everyone.
- Which films are like True Stories?
- Films with a similar feel include Lars and the Real Girl, The Young Girls of Rochefort, and Napoleon Dynamite.
- How long is True Stories?
- True Stories runs 89 minutes.
- Where can I watch True Stories?
- In United States, True Stories is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
