Stories We Tell(2012) -

Polley uses a unique blend of real archival material and "faux" home video to challenge traditional documentary conventions.

The documentary is structured as an investigation where Polley interviews her siblings, her father Michael, and friends of her mother to piece together Diane’s life. Diane passed away from cancer when Sarah was only 11, leaving behind a legacy of vibrant energy and hidden layers. Stories We Tell(2012)

: While deeply personal, critics at The Hollywood Reporter and The A.V. Club noted that the film resonates as a universal meditation on how families define themselves through the stories they inherit. Polley uses a unique blend of real archival

: Through her research, Polley identifies her biological father as Harry Gulkin , a film producer she eventually meets and forms a friendship with. : While deeply personal, critics at The Hollywood

Polley later won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for her 2022 film Women Talking , further cementing her status as a premiere voice in modern storytelling.

: To fill the gaps where no footage existed, Polley filmed elaborate re-creations using Super-8 film. These sequences, featuring actors like Rebecca Jenkins as Diane, are so authentic that they are often indistinguishable from real family memories.

: The film highlights how each person’s version of the past is shaped by their own perspective, suggesting that "truth" is often ephemeral and subjective.