Rent True Stories (1986)
3.7 of 5 from 78 ratings
1h 29min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Music icon David Byrne was inspired by tabloid headlines to make his sole foray into feature-film directing, an ode to the extraordinariness of ordinary American life and a distillation of what was in his own idiosyncratic mind. The Talking Heads front man plays a visitor to Virgil, Texas, who introduces us to the citizens of the town during preparations for its Celebration of Specialness. As shot by cinematographer Ed Lachman, Texas becomes a hyperrealistic late-capitalist landscape of endless vistas, shopping malls, and prefab metal buildings. In 'True Stories', Byrne uses his songs to stitch together pop iconography, voodoo rituals, and a singular variety show - all in the service of uncovering the rich mysteries that lurk under the surface of everyday experience. - Actors:
- John Goodman, Annie McEnroe, Jo Harvey Allen, Spalding Gray, Alix Elias, Roebuck 'Pops' Staples, Tito Larriva, John Ingle, Matthew Posey, Swoosie Kurtz, Freeman Beatty, Evelyn Box, Kevin Box, Amy Buffington, Cora Cardona, Ken Chambers, Ray Coahran, Jim Colegrove, Capucine DeWulf, Connie Deaton
- Directors:
- David Byrne
- Producers:
- Gary Kurfirst
- Narrated By:
- David Byrne
- Writers:
- Stephen Tobolowsky, Beth Henley, David Byrne
- Genres:
- Comedy, Drama, Music & Musicals
- Collections:
- Top 10 Films Set in Department Stores
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 28/01/2019
- Run Time:
- 89 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- New documentary about the film's production, featuring Byrne, Lachman, screenwriter Stephen Tobolowsky, executive producer Edward Pressman, coproducer Karen Murphy, fashion-show costume designer Adelle Lutz, casting director Victoria Thomas, consultant Christina Patoski, actor Jo Harvey Allen, and artist and songwriter Terry Allen
- Real Life (1986), a short documentary by Pamela Yates and Newton Thomas Sigel made on the set of the film
- No Time to Look Back, a new homage to Virgil, Texas, the fictional town where True Stories is set New documentary about designer Tibor Kalman and his influence on Byrne and work on the film, featuring Byrne and artist Maira Kalman, Tibor's widow
- Deleted Scenes
- Trailer
- Essays by critic Rebecca Bengal, journalist and author Joe Nick Patoski, and Byrne; a 1986 piece by actor Spalding Gray on the film's production; and a selection of production photography, along with Byrne's tabloid clippings and writing about the film's visual motifs
