True Stories
True Stories are those based (sometimes loosely!) on fact. They cover topics as diverse as drug addiction, poverty, political unrest, the corruption of power, alcoholism, class divisions, sexual inequality, mental illness and other human struggles. Meet some of history's most intriguing characters, find out what it's really like to climb a mountain or paint a masterpiece. Truly, the True Story is one of cinema's most engaging and enthralling genres.
Bio-pics feature in this section and are also gathered together separately under the 'Biography' sublink left.
Pictured: Inside the Las Vegas mob, Scorsese's unromantic 'Goodfellas'
Van Diemen's Land (2009)
6/10
Director: Jonathan auf der Heide
Starring: Oscar Redding, Arthur Angel, Paul Ashcroft
The true story of Australia's most notorious convict, Alexander Pearce and his escape into the beautiful but brutal Tasmanian wilderness. 1822: Van Di... Read more
Varian's War (2001)
6.4/10
Director: Lionel Chetwynd
Starring: William Hurt, Alan Arkin, Lynn Redgrave
In 1940, American journalist Varian Fry arrived in Nazi-occupied France and launched a dangerous campaign to help some of Europe's most-renowned artis... Read more
Vatel (2000)
6.6/10
Director: Roland Joffe
Starring: Gerard Depardieu, Uma Thurman, Tim Roth, Julian Sands, Julian Glover
Sweeping historic epic set in France in 1671 and starring Gerard Depardieu as Francois Vatel, a steward for the near-bankrupt Prince de Conde. While... Read more
Veronica Guerin (2003)
6.9/10
Director: Joel Schumacher
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Gerard McSorley, Ciaran Hinds, Brenda Fricker
Taut, true story from director Joel Schumacher ("Phone Booth") stars Cate Blanchett in the title role, a journalist for Dublin, Ireland's Sunday Indep... Read more
Vice (2018)
7.2/10
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Tyler Perry, Alison Pill,...
Governor George W Bush of Texas picks Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co, to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No... Read more
Vice (Blu-Ray) (2018)
7.2/10
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Tyler Perry, Alison Pill,...
Governor George W Bush of Texas picks Dick Cheney, the CEO of Halliburton Co, to be his Republican running mate in the 2000 presidential election. No... Read more
Viceroy's House (2017)
6.6/10
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Starring: Gillian Anderson, Hugh Bonneville, Michael Gambon, Manish Dayal, Huma Qureshi
Viceroys House in Delhi was the home of the British rulers of India. After 300 years, that rule was coming to an end. For 6 months in 1947, Lord Moun... Read more
Victoria and Abdul (2017)
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Judi Dench, Michael Gambon, Olivia Williams, Tim Pigott-Smith, Eddie Izzard, Pau...
Abdul Karim arrives from India to participate in Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The young clerk is surprised to find favor with the queen herself. A... Read more
Vincent and Theo (1990)
Director: Robert Altman
Starring: Tim Roth, Paul Rhys, Johanna Ter Steege
Robert Altman's audacious portrait of the tortured life of painter Vincent Van Gogh, his relationship with his troubled brother Theo and his struggle... Read more
Wah-Wah (2005)
6.9/10
Director: Richard E Grant
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Miranda Richardson, Nicholas Hoult, Emily Watson, Julie Walters,...
South African-born actor Richard E Grant makes his directorial debut with this semi-autobiographical comedy/drama set against the colonial British wit... Read more