--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anyone who says a movie about history is…" description: "\"Anyone who says a movie about history is a historical document is crazy.\" — Dustin Lance Black" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/dustin-lance-black-4536_crazy_anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is_1504764.png" --- # Anyone who says a movie about history is a historical… ![“Anyone who says a movie about history is a historical document is crazy.” quote by Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/dustin-lance-black-4536_crazy_anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is_1504764.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/dustin-lance-black-4536_crazy_anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is_1504764.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/dustin-lance-black-4536_crazy_anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is_1504764.png) > “Anyone who says a movie about history is a historical document is crazy.” [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treating a film as a factual record ignores artistic interpretation and narrative shaping. **In simple terms:** Films are not literal histories. Key Takeaway Distinguish art from documentation. Themes media criticism history film interpretation Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - Film reviews - academic discussions - teaching history - media literacy Key Concepts Narrative bias subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess a film’s historical accuracy? - What responsibilities do filmmakers have? A Different Perspective Artistic license can still mislead audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) ## Related quotes > [But you have to understand what that really did is that it opened these DVDs to be sources of oral history instead of puff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/but-you-have-to-understand-what-that-really-did-is-that-it-opened/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [I hope to make the most expensive movie in history at some point!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/i-hope-to-make-the-most-expensive-movie-in-history-at-some-point/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > ['No one sits Baby in a corner,' one of the best lines in movie history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-quinn/no-one-sits-baby-in-a-corner-one-of-the-best-lines-in-movie-history/) [Christine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-quinn/) > [I just want to make sure I'm contributing good films to movie history rather than being famous just to be famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-lerman/i-just-want-to-make-sure-i-m-contributing-good-films-to-movie-history/) [Logan Lerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-lerman/) > [I was living in a terrible time when people were being accused of being communists, and they attacked the movie industry, especially the writers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/i-was-living-in-a-terrible-time-when-people-were-being-accused-of/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [I don't really believe in trying to erase every Woody Allen movie from history. For one thing, that's kind of unfair to all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-don-t-really-believe-in-trying-to-erase-every-woody-allen-movie/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I'm not somebody who comes in with a whole outline, and says, "Here's the movie we're going to make." That's not what a documentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-spurlock/i-m-not-somebody-who-comes-in-with-a-whole-outline-and-says-here-s/) [Morgan Spurlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-spurlock/) > [I just think adding superheroes to something instantly makes it more interesting. I have a friend who says every movie should either be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-millar/i-just-think-adding-superheroes-to-something-instantly-makes-it-more/) [Mark Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-millar/) > [“In one of the extras that come with the DVD version of the movie (Groundhog Day), Danny Rubin, who came up with the original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wex/in-one-of-the-extras-that-come-with-the-dvd-version-of-the-movie/) Michael Wex > [People don't care about what someone says about you in a movie - or even what you say, right? They care about what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/people-don-t-care-about-what-someone-says-about-you-in-a-movie-or/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [I'm pretty laidback as a dad anyway. I just trust her so much. She has a great head on her shoulders and she makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-ray-cyrus/i-m-pretty-laidback-as-a-dad-anyway-i-just-trust-her-so-much-she-has/) [Billy Ray Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-ray-cyrus/) > [I'm good friends with The Rock, and I talk to him all the time. And he says that, even though his movie career has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-stratus/i-m-good-friends-with-the-rock-and-i-talk-to-him-all-the-time-and-he/) [Trish Stratus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-stratus/) > [People don't care about what someone says about you in a movie--or even what you say, right? They care about what you build.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/people-don-t-care-about-what-someone-says-about-you-in-a-movie-or-2/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [If you write a post and put it on a blog, that's a historical document. If you change your template, then that entry looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-greenberg/if-you-write-a-post-and-put-it-on-a-blog-that-s-a-historical-document/) [Joshua Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-greenberg/) > [Jews, Germans, and Allies is an important historical document, especially in light of those revisionists who would impose a universal amnesia about the suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilma-wolitzer/jews-germans-and-allies-is-an-important-historical-document/) [Hilma Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilma-wolitzer/) ## More by Dustin Lance Black > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I watched Sean Penn, you know, bring Harvey Milk to life. I was on the set every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-watched-sean-penn-you-know-bring-harvey-milk-to-life-i-was-on-the/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I love the true life stories and the biopics - people say I'm pigeonholed, but it's a fantastic kind of pigeonhole - but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-love-the-true-life-stories-and-the-biopics-people-say-i-m/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [Gay people are more powerful when they work with lesbians. We become more powerful when we're L, G, B and T.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/gay-people-are-more-powerful-when-they-work-with-lesbians-we-become/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I get emotionally attached to someone if I talk to them on the street corner for five minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-get-emotionally-attached-to-someone-if-i-talk-to-them-on-the-street/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [For Coca-Cola to take a pro-diversity, pro-equality stance creates a lot of goodwill in the LGBT community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/for-coca-cola-to-take-a-pro-diversity-pro-equality-stance-creates-a/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [In this miraculous, beautiful universe of ours, where it's an absolute miracle that our eyes and ears can witness it all, we somehow have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/in-this-miraculous-beautiful-universe-of-ours-where-it-s-an-absolute/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [You can't keep treating people differently under the law because of their differences. That's not America. I dare say that's not even a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/you-can-t-keep-treating-people-differently-under-the-law-because-of/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [There has been this resurgence in anti-LGBT language in the U.K. and the U.S., and the rest of the world. In the U.S. we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/there-has-been-this-resurgence-in-anti-lgbt-language-in-the-u-k-and/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [Have I always agreed with my Southern, military, Mormon family? Absolutely not. Have we always figured out how to get along? Yes! At the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/have-i-always-agreed-with-my-southern-military-mormon-family/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I think of the biopics I've written as exploring a more grown-up side of myself, through other characters' lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-think-of-the-biopics-i-ve-written-as-exploring-a-more-grown-up-side/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I wrote 'Milk' for me. I wrote it for the younger version of me that had no clue that there are people who'd ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-wrote-milk-for-me-i-wrote-it-for-the-younger-version-of-me-that-had/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I'd say I'm not sure about Christianity, but I sure do like their Christ and the lessons about turning the other cheek, about forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-d-say-i-m-not-sure-about-christianity-but-i-sure-do-like-their/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I like the gray movies. I don't know if audiences always... it makes them work a little harder. And they have to work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/i-like-the-gray-movies-i-don-t-know-if-audiences-always-it-makes-them/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [Being right is overrated! If someone is saying that they're right about the future, that's a claim only a fool would make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/being-right-is-overrated-if-someone-is-saying-that-they-re-right/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) [Explore all 109 Dustin Lance Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) ## More Crazy quotes > [Im wild Im crazy, I'm wild, Im crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-dot-curve/im-wild-im-crazy-i-m-wild-im-crazy/) Dot Dot Curve > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. 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It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) Browse all 9,039 Crazy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anyone who says a movie about history is a historical document is crazy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dustin Lance Black" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is-a-historical-document-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crazy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is-a-historical-document-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/dustin-lance-black-4536_crazy_anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is_1504764.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/dustin-lance-black-4536_crazy_anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is_1504764.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7d/dustin-lance-black-4536_crazy_anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is_1504764.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Anyone who says a movie about history is a historical document is crazy.” — Dustin Lance Black", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dustin Lance Black", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Anyone who says a movie about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is-a-historical-document-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/anyone-who-says-a-movie-about-history-is-a-historical-document-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```