Examining the Boundaries Between Fiction and Fact in the Narrative Cinema

Abstract

The film, Stand By Me, has been described as a small gem. First impression reveals little more than a linear plot, a story told, from Gordie’s point-of-view, of a journey made by four boys to find a dead body. But, on closer inspection, the film reveals itself as far more complex in narrative structure. The film uses ambiguity of character, flashbacks and two types of voice-over narration, to offer not only an exploration of the nature of fictional storytelling, but also a profound examination of the subtle boundaries between fiction and fact in the conventions of narrative cinema