Well, it's a bit complicated. 'Mommie Dearest' was presented as a true story about Joan Crawford. Christina Crawford wrote the book that the movie was based on, claiming to expose her mother's cruel behavior. But some people in Hollywood who knew Joan Crawford thought that Christina might have exaggerated some parts for drama or out of personal grudges. So while it has roots in truth, it may not be 100% accurate.
Yes, 'Mommie Dearest' is based on the memoirs of Joan Crawford's daughter, Christina Crawford, and presents a controversial account of their relationship.
The true story in 'Mommie Dearest' had several key events. Christina Crawford described a childhood filled with fear. The wire hanger incident became quite famous, symbolizing Joan's anger. There were also stories of Joan being overly critical of Christina's performance in various tasks, like schoolwork or household chores. And the relationship between Joan and Christina deteriorated over time due to Joan's alleged perfectionism and the pressure she put on her daughter, which led to a very strained mother - daughter relationship as Christina grew up.
Mommie Dearest is indeed fiction. It was created for entertainment purposes and doesn't represent actual happenings. The story and characters are fabricated to engage the audience.