College and high school serve as the backdrop for two stories about dysfunction and personal turmoil.College and high school serve as the backdrop for two stories about dysfunction and personal turmoil.College and high school serve as the backdrop for two stories about dysfunction and personal turmoil.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
- Ethan (segment "Fiction")
- (as Steven Rosen)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThere was a third story, with James Van Der Beek as a college student realizing his sexuality, which was subsequently cut out of the film.
- GoofsThe positions of Scooby's hands when he is holding the gun change between shots.
- Quotes
Catherine: It was confessional, yet dishonest. Jane pretends to be horrified by the sexuality that she in fact fetishizes. She subsumes herself to the myth of black male potency, but then doesn't follow through. She thinks she 'respects Afro-Americans,' she thinks they're 'cool,' 'exotic,' what a notch he 'd make in her belt, but, of course, it all comes down to mandingo cliché, and he calls her on it. In classic racist tradition she demonizes, then runs for cover. But then, how could she behave otherwise? She's just a spoiled suburban white girl with a Benneton rainbow complex. It's just my opinion, and what do I know... but I think it's a callow piece of writing.
- Alternate versionsThe original version of the film featured a third story entitled "Autobiography", concerning, among other things, a closeted football player (James van der Beek). The main character has an explicit gay sex scene with a male partner (Steven Rosen); the entire story was cut from the final version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)
- SoundtracksFiction
Performed by Nathan Larson and Nina Persson
Written by Nathan Larson and Nina Persson
Published by The Music Of NATO and Stockholm Songs
Nathan Larson appears courtesy of Artemis Records
Nina Persson appears courtesy of Stockholm Records
Sadly though, I find it hard to convince certain TYPES of people as to why Solondz's work is so good. I try to tell them the writing is award-winning and beyond most failed attempts at culture critique. I try and tell them how good the performances are. I even try and point out some fantastic themes out of the multitude available in his work. But these certain types, they just can't seem to get it.
But on the bright side, the one thing that does give me a boast about Storytelling is Conan O'Brien. Now, it's not the fact that he's here, but how he fits in, it's like there are people out there that do NOT understand Conan or his humor at all, they just don't get HIM altogether. Then there are those, such as myself, that completely understand Conan and all his self-deprecation. How can you not love a character like Scooby that wants to be Conan's sidekick??? Is this NOT the dream of every self-deprecating teenager and college student?!? Being able to simple make that point in a film, as Solondz does so perfectly during that scene with Scooby and Conan, right after the proverbial gay pseudo blow-job, is something most auteur's can't ever GET AT. This is why it's depressing watching the film, you see how brilliant this man is and how clearly he can speak his mind and say to you: "I hear YOU, I feel this way, and I know you do too, and this is here for US to enjoy, not just something for everyone." Some people say Art is something everyone can universally appreciate. Others say it is completely subjective. I think it can in fact be both ways. You can look at Storytelling or actually Happiness is better for this as formulaic, or formal art, the technical way the film is put together is brilliant, that's its universal art. The thematics, the way the auteur says what's directly on his mind in a way that a certain kind of person is immediately able to grasp a hold of firmly, that's the other kind, the subjective kind. This man understands communication, let alone life, like very very VERY few writers and directors ever have and ever will.
- surenm
- Sep 4, 2002
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Untitled Todd Solondz Project
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $921,445
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $73,688
- Jan 27, 2002
- Gross worldwide
- $1,318,945
- Runtime1 hour 27 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix