autobiography for film

Best Autobiographical Movies from Major Filmmakers

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

10 Funniest Quotes From 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation'

Roger ebert’s 10 funniest bad movie reviews, the 4 movies jason statham produced himself & their fate at the box office.

It takes a lot of courage for an artist to dive into one's personal life and create something purely autobiographical for the entire world to see. In the case of cinema, it gives filmmakers a chance to take a look back at their lives through a creative lens and to reminisce their long-lost days. Indeed, whether it's to look back fondly at their youth or tackle informative, and often difficult, moments in their past, directors will utilize the autobiographical film, not as a form of self-indulgence or vanity, but as an unearthing and a sharing of their stories in a way that belongs to them.

The autobiographical genre has been around since the beginning of cinema. However, the last handful of years has seen a sort of boom, with Kenneth Branagh directing Belfast last year (which dives into his childhood ) and, this year, Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans . Here, we’re taking a look at the best autobiographical movies ever released.

7 The Souvenir — Joanna Hogg (2019)

Written and directed by the British filmmaker Joanna Hogg, The Souvenir is a semi-autobiographical drama film starring Honor Swinton Byrne, Tom Burke, and Tilda Swinton . The plot revolves around young film student Julie, who falls in love with well-to-do office worker Anthony, but their toxic relationship ends up affecting her university studies. As it turns out, Anthony is a heroin addict, has had questionable relationships with three other young girls, and doesn't shy away from breaking into Julie's apartment. The movie received critical acclaim right upon its release at the Sundance Film Festival. Despite the excellent acting, stunning cinematography, and precise editing, it may be not be everyone's cup of tea as the plot can run dry throughout its runtime.

Related: 8 Major Filmmakers Who Directed Music Videos

6 The Squid and the Whale — Noah Baumbach (2005)

The Squid and the Whale is a semi-autobiographical independent comedy-drama written and directed by Noah Baumbach . The filmmaker was one of the few screenwriters to ever sweep "The Big Four" critics awards with this Super 16mm-shot film. The plot focuses on two boys from Brooklyn dealing with their parents' divorce back in 1986. Although the arrogant novelist dad and unfaithful writer mom agree to share custody, their parenting is more combative than before. Baumbach is known for dealing with similar themes in some of his other movies, such as failed marriages of aspiring artists, but you can feel how painfully realistic this one is. While the other movies focus on the adults, The Squid and the Whale pays closer attention to how divorces affect the children and their mental state.

5 Roma — Alfonso Cuarón (2018)

Written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Roma is yet again a semi-autobiographical drama film starring Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira in the leading roles. Not only did Cuarón also produce, shoot, and co-edit the movie himself, the plot is also based on his own upbringing in the Colonia Roma in a neighborhood of Mexico City. Set in 1970 and 1971, the movie follows a live-in Mixteco housekeeper of an upper-class family. What sets this movie apart, as outlined by Film School Rejects , is its monochrome color and minimalist shots scattered throughout the movie. The housekeeper (inspired by Cuarón's) is treated like part of the Mexican family, even when she announces her sudden pregnancy. It illustrates class differences as a salient matter in Mexican culture and promotes that there's more to life as a Hispanic than being a maid and taking care of your children.

4 American Graffiti — George Lucas (1973)

The first movie to ever be produced by Lucasfilm, American Graffiti is a coming-of-age comedy-drama directed by George Lucas and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, and many more. Set in 1962, the movie is a study of cruising and early rock 'n roll, popular in Lucas' teenage years. At the center of the movie, there are different teenagers and their adventures over the course of one night, which were inspired by Lucas' own rebellious days. Its earnest soundtrack, on top of a grim sense of humor and its span over just one day, hits differently and more strongly than other movies. Universal Pictures was the only one to accept Lucas' pitch and agree to produce the film. Well, shame on those who passed, given how American Graffiti has become one of the most profitable movies ever made.

Related: The Best Biopics About Actors, Ranked

3 Minari — Lee Isaac Chung (2020)

Directed and written by Lee Isaac Chung, Minari is a semi-autobiographical drama movie starring Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, and Alan Kim in the leading roles. Based on Lee's own upbringing, the plot is set in the 1980s and follows a South Korean-immigrant family as they move to Arkansas to live on a farm and start their own "American Dream". The Yi family wants to grow their own Korean produce and start their own family business, but not everything's as easy as it seems. Minari explores the immigrant experience, the hardships of moving to a sparsely populated place, meeting new people, the strain it can put on marriage, what it means to sacrifice for family, and the vague concept of the American dream.

2 Lady Bird — Greta Gerwig (2017)

Written and directed by Greta Gerwig in her solo directorial debut, Lady Bird is a coming-of-age comedy-drama starring Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf in the leading roles. Inspired by Gerwig's teenage years, the movie follows a young girl — self-named "Lady Bird" — who's a high school senior in 2002 with creative aspirations, but has a strained relationship with her mother, who is not understanding of her needs. The city of Sacramento plays a huge role in the movie as Lady Bird's dream is to move somewhere with culture rather than a stagnant place where nothing ever happens. However, most importantly, it depicts the painful truth of some mothers loving their daughters out of duty rather than liking them as human beings.

1 The 400 Blows — François Truffaut (1959)

As the directorial debut of François Truffaut, The 400 Blows is one of the defining coming-of-age drama movies of the French New Wave. Jean-Pierre Léaud plays a semi-autobiographical character of Truffaut called Antoine Doinel, a rebellious Parisian boy who seeks understanding from his teachers and parents due to his rebellious nature. More than 60 years after its release, The 400 Blows is still considered one of the best French spectacles in history. It shines light on the misunderstood youth of the 50s and 60s in France, while rejecting the traditional ways of filmmaking. It won Truffaut the Best Director award at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival — and rightfully so, as it helped create the foundation of new French cinema.