Tall Tales—Myth and Honesty in Tim Burton’s Big Fish (2003)

Questions about the relationship between truth and fiction have a long history in philosophical thinking, going back at least as far Plato. They re-emerge more recent debates on cinema are powerfully illustrated Tim Burton’s 2003 film Big Fish, which narrates story of Edward his son Will, who tries to uncover behind father’s tall tales. Will’s desire for honesty—for facts rather stories—has led considerable rift them. While extols beauty storytelling power myth, it also raises questions honesty fact fiction. This article explores these themes from multidisciplinary perspective by drawing diverse sources, including Friedrich Nietzsche’s Vom Nutzen und Nachteil der Historie für das Leben/On Truth Lies an Nonmoral Sense (1873), contemporary writings fiction, virtues truthfulness, sincerity, well ideas memoir creative life writing drawn literary studies. Overall, argues positive, potential defends idea that larger truths may often be found embellished deceptive fictions. The final section expands this discussion explore cinema’s create what Nietzsche called ‘honesty myth’. Through variety background aims demonstrate how multiple disciplinary contexts can brought together stimulate fruitful conversations cinema, myth storytelling.