Storytelling (film)

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Storytelling

DVD cover for Storytelling
Directed by Todd Solondz
Produced by Christine Vachon,
Ted Hope
Written by Todd Solondz
Starring Selma Blair
Leo Fitzpatrick
Robert Wisdom
Paul Giamatti
Mark Webber
John Goodman
Julie Hagerty
Franka Potente
James Van Der Beek (cut)
Emmanuelle Chriqui (cut)
Heather Matarazzo (cut)
Release date(s) January 27, 2002
Running time 87 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

Storytelling is a 2001 film, directed by Todd Solondz. It features original music by Belle & Sebastian, later compiled on an album of the same name.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The film consists of two stories that are unrelated and have different actors, titled "Fiction" and "Non-Fiction". "Fiction", starring Selma Blair, is about a group of college students in a creative writing class taught by a professor who has affairs with his students. "Non-Fiction", starring Paul Giamatti and John Goodman, is about the filming of a high school student and his family through the college application process.

[edit] Third story

The original version of the film featured a third story, concerning, among other things, a closeted football player played by actor James van der Beek.[citation needed] After being shown in several film festivals, for unknown reasons the entire story was cut from the final version.[citation needed] Many fans aware of this plot point hope for a release of the material, however to date it has not occurred.[citation needed]

[edit] Red box controversy

During the sex scene in the "Fiction" part of the film, a red box was added for the American version of the film. This was used to bend the rules of the MPAA's rating system, allowing the film to obtain the R rating instead of NC-17. Initially the red box was to have had the word "Censored" on it, but the MPAA also deemed this unacceptable because they do not consider themselves censors.[citation needed] Solondz described the addition of the box as a political statement: "I was prepared to make that political statement. This is something I've always been prepared to do, as long as the audience is aware of what it's not allowed to see. That's how I feel "politically" about that. (...)" [1] The box is not present in the international version of the film, although in the american DVD release, both options are available, reflecting the popularity of the censored version.

[edit] External links