These films tend to keep the audience guessing. Just like in real - life mysteries, the filmmakers don't give away all the answers easily. In 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', there are so many layers of mystery, from the family secrets to the identity of the killer. The audience has to pay close attention to all the clues throughout the movie to piece together what really happened.
They usually have complex characters. Because real - life events often involve many different people with their own motives and backstories. In 'Changeling', the mother's character was complex. She was a strong - willed woman fighting against the system that was trying to cover up the truth. And the police officers also had their own reasons for their actions, which added to the mystery.
His films in this category often have complex characters. They are not just one - dimensional. Take 'Shoplifters' for instance. Each character has their own backstory and motives for their actions, and these motives are often rooted in real - life circumstances that the true story might have presented. It makes the mystery more engaging as you try to figure out why the characters do what they do.
Films based on true stories usually have a connection to real - world emotions. The characters' experiences are often relatable because they actually happened to someone. In 'The Pursuit of Happyness', the struggles of the main character are based on a true story and many people can empathize with his fight for a better life. They also tend to attract more attention from the audience as people are generally curious about real events and the people involved. Additionally, they can sometimes bring about social change by highlighting important issues as seen in 'Erin Brockovich' which focused on environmental pollution and corporate negligence.
These films usually have a strong emotional impact. Since they are based on real events, the stories can be very moving, like stories of survival or great achievements. They can make the viewers feel a wide range of emotions from sadness to inspiration.
Many of them aimed to be as accurate as possible in depicting the real events. For instance, in 'Ford v Ferrari', the racing scenes were carefully re - created to match the historical race.
One of the notable films by Koreeda based on a true story is 'Shoplifters'. It delves into the life of a family who are not related by blood but live together and survive through shoplifting. The movie beautifully portrays the complex relationships within this makeshift family and how they deal with the outside world.
Often, they tend to have a sense of realism. For example, in 'Hostel', the seedy and sometimes dangerous nature of some hostel environments is portrayed realistically. They might also show the cultural mix that occurs in hostels. In true - story - based hostel films, there could be real - life events that drive the plot, like a mystery or a discovery that happened in an actual hostel.
They often have a sense of authenticity. For example, they might use real locations or events to make the story more believable.
The characters are usually complex and relatable. Since they are based on real people, they have real - life flaws and virtues. In a movie like 'The Pursuit of Happyness', Chris Gardner's character is full of determination but also faces many setbacks, which makes him a very human and engaging character.
One characteristic is the display of human resilience. In 'Unbroken', we see how Louis Zamperini survived the brutality of the POW camps. Another is the accurate portrayal of the environment. 'The Revenant' shows the unforgiving cold of the frontier. Also, they tend to have a strong sense of authenticity as they are based on real events.
Authenticity. They often strive to present real events and people as accurately as possible. For example, in a biographical film, the appearance and mannerisms of the real - life character are carefully recreated.