Things I Know to Be True

Things I Know to Be True

Year: 2017

Runtime: 118 mins

Language: English

Directors: Scott Graham, Geordie Brookman

DramaComedy

A family grapples with shifting dynamics and unspoken truths as their adult children return home. Bob and Fran, the parents, have dedicated their lives to raising their four children, and now anticipate a time of relaxation. However, the changing seasons bring unexpected revelations that challenge their understanding of each other and their place within the family. The story explores the complexities of marriage and the struggle to forge individual identities separate from parental expectations, blending humor and heartfelt moments with striking physicality.

Bittersweet
Sad ending
Emotionally heavy
Medium intensity
Slow pacing
Moderate complexity

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Timeline & Setting – Things I Know to Be True (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Things I Know to Be True (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary (early 21st century)

The events unfold in the modern era, with characters traveling internationally and engaging in contemporary family issues. The narrative uses current social themes, such as gender identity and long-standing marriages, to shape decisions and conflicts. Flights, finances, and personal revelations reflect a present-day setting rather than a historical period.

Location

Adelaide, Berlin, Vancouver, Sydney, Kruger National Park

The Price family’s story centers in Adelaide, their Australian home, which frames the family’s daily life and serves as the setting for Fran’s death and the funeral. Berlin is where Rosie’s gap-year trip leads to a troubling encounter that drives her back home. Vancouver marks Pip’s new life away from Australia as she seeks independence, while Sydney is the future destination for Mia’s hormone therapy. The idea of travel and a potential trip to Kruger National Park frames Bob’s hopeful dream and the family’s international journeys, including the eventual journey toward South Africa.

🎭 Family dynamics 🌍 Cross-border travel 🏞️ African landscapes 🏙️ Australian cities

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:26

Main Characters – Things I Know to Be True (2017)

Meet the key characters of Things I Know to Be True (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bob Price (Ewan Stewart)

Bob Price is Fran's husband and the family’s steady anchor. He speaks with quiet patience, aims to protect his family, and navigates grief with restrained openness. He holds onto hope and a sense of duty even as reveals about his children unfold. His gentle, optimistic presence keeps the family tethered to one another.

👪 Family pillar 🗺️ Travel dreams 🕊️ Resilience

Fran Price (Imogen Stubbs)

Fran is the family matriarch whose practical savings and steady expectations mask a longing for stability. She contemplates paths apart from her long marriage yet remains devoted to keeping the family intact. Her death in a car crash becomes the emotional fulcrum of the story, forcing forgiveness and memory to take center stage.

💔 Matriarch 🧭 Love and loyalty 💸 Saving and secrets

Rosie Price (Kirsty Oswald)

Rosie is the eldest daughter who returns from a European getaway changed by a troubling encounter in Berlin. Her trajectory adds tension to the family as her bond with Fran and the siblings evolves. She embodies the sense of travel and independence that marks the newer generation.

🌍 Adventurer ✈️ Gap-year traveler 💬 Family ties

Pip Price (Natalie Casey)

Pip leaves her husband and two children to live in Vancouver, seeking a fresh start. Her emotional distance from the family widens, but a letter reconnects her with Fran and hints at healing from a painful upbringing. Her choices illuminate the costs and consequences of independence.

🌍 Global seeker 💔 Estrangement 📨 Reconciliation

Ben Price (Richard Mylan)

Ben is the younger son who clashes with his father and hides a troubling path that includes skimming money to fund drugs and flashier appearances. His actions reveal a restless desire for escape and status while exposing the fragility of family trust. The reveal of his money-raising method ties back to the family’s vulnerability.

💊 Risk-taking 🕵️‍♂️ Secrecy 💸 Consequences

Mia Price (Mark Price) (Matthew Barker)

Mia, who is introduced as Mark Price, comes out as transgender and outlines plans to move to Sydney for hormone therapy. Her journey challenges family assumptions and tests the limits of acceptance. The transition reframes relationships, highlighting courage, identity, and love within the Price family.

🌈 Identity 🧭 Self-discovery 💬 Family dialogue

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:26

Major Themes – Things I Know to Be True (2017)

Explore the central themes of Things I Know to Be True (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👪 Family

The Price family forms the core of the drama, with long-standing bonds strained by secrets, infidelity, and loss. Each member carries unspoken fears and loyalties that drive their choices. The play uses intimate domestic scenes to show how love, duty, and guilt shape a family's resilience.

🧭 Identity

Mia's coming-out and the exploration of gender identity test the parents' beliefs and the siblings' relationships. Pip's personal decisions also reflect shifting identities and independence. The dynamics reveal how identity can redefine loyalty and belonging within a family.

🕊️ Grief

Fran's sudden death triggers a cascade of grief across the family, forcing confrontations and forgiveness. The funeral and the emotional closures reshape relationships and reveal past hurts. Grief is shown not only as sorrow but as a catalyst for truth-telling and reconciliation.

🗝️ Secrets

Hidden motivations and unspoken histories surface throughout the narrative, from financial pretenses to past abuse and hidden desires. The characters reveal half-truths that stain trust and force difficult conversations. The uncovering of these secrets tests the strength of family ties and personal honesty.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:26

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Narrative Summary

The narrative is typically built around a central, tragic loss that acts as a catalyst. The story then follows the aftermath, examining how characters process their grief, grapple with regrets, and slowly, often painfully, learn to live with their new reality. The focus is on the emotional journey rather than a solution, leading to an ending that is somber yet suggests the possibility of continued life.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their specific emotional blend: a high sadness score tempered not by happiness, but by a bittersweet, hopeful undertone. They share a slow, contemplative pace that allows the audience to sit with the characters' pain, and they prioritize emotional authenticity over dramatic resolution, creating a deeply resonant and cathartic viewing experience.

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Things I Know to Be True Summary

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Things I Know to Be True Summary

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