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Made in Texas Film Series...

True Stories
(1986, 89 min)
Writer: David Byrne, Beth Henley, Stephen Tobolowsky
Director: David Byrne
Cast: David Byrne, John Goodman, Spalding Gray, Swoosie Kurtz 

Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 7:30pm
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum 

“It's a bold attempt to paint a bizarre American landscape. This movie does what some painters try to do: It recasts ordinary images into strange new shapes.” -Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times 

SYNOPSIS: A dream-like combination of the real and the fictional, David Byrne of the Talking Heads claims the stories in this film were all things he had read in the newspaper.  The oddities of life – strange beauty pageants, the happily married couple that have not spoken to each other in over 15 years or the woman who chooses to stay in bed the rest of her life.  Byrne’s film centers around the people of the fictional Texas town of Virgil on the eve of the state’s sesquicentennial celebration.  One of the most colorful characters in Virgil is Lewis Fyne, a big-hearted bachelor in search of love who also dreams of being a country music star played by John Goodman.  Byrne himself takes on the role of the Narrator, driving around town in his red convertible and dressed in “typical” western garb.  Also, 50 sets of twins appear in the film, wrap your head around that. 

Shot in various parts of Texas including Dallas and Red Oak. 

To view a trailer of True Stories, click here.  

“I have something to say about the difference between American and European cities. But I've forgotten what it is. I have it written down at home somewhere.”