Did True Story Do Women Dirty? Director Hanelle Culpepper Weighs In
Warning: This post contains True Story spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.
Netflix‘s hit limited series True Story does a great job unpacking the rivalrous and damaged relationship between two very different brothers as they attempt to cover up a murder or two.
But when it comes to women, let’s just say there is a dearth of variety.
The most fully realized woman on the show is Billie, played by Space Force‘s Tawny Newsome. She writes jokes for Kid (Kevin Hart), but he takes her for granted until almost losing her to Will Ferrell. Billie also has a clandestine romantic relationship with Kid’s bodyguard, Herschel, and their boss doesn’t approve. Unfortunately, Kid’s dissatisfaction with their coupling is never truly explained.
The other women on the drama are either groupies Carlton (Wesley Snipes) introduces, including Daphne/Simone, who Kid thought died of an overdose, but didn’t; Kid’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Monyca; or Andrea, the hotel employee Kid sexually seduces.
Hanelle M. Culpepper, whose directorial work includes Star Trek: Picard, Kung Fu and S.W.A.T., directed Episodes 3-7 of True Story.
Although the series fails the Bechdel test, because two women are never shown talking to one another about … well anything, Culpepper argues True Story gets other things right.
“It doesn’t pass the Bechdel test, but it does pass the DuVernay test,” Culpepper tells TVLine, referring to filmmaker Ava DuVernay’s push to hire more women directors in the industry. “As a director, I look for all kinds of stories, and I was drawn to this one because of the way it looks at brothers.”
Culpepper, who is the eldest of five, explains how True Story‘s fraternal discord intrigued her as a storyteller, as did getting to know Billie.
“These two have conflicts and full-on lives and stories,” Culpepper says of Hart and Snipes’ characters. “And neither brother fits into a stereotype. To me, Billie represents women well, because she’s smart and thoughtful, and there is a point where she forces Kid to appreciate all that she brought to the table, and how she made his success possible. In that way, she is a catalyst for his growth.”
Kid’s estranged wife Monyca (played by Lauren London, The Game) also has a self-reflecting effect on him, Culpepper contends.
“Other than that? Yeah,” Culpepper says, ever-so slightly chagrined. “But, to be fair, this is a narrative about two Black men, and we don’t get to see them in these kinds of stories very much either. In that way, True Story fulfilled my need to tell stories about people with full lives and good attributes and bad — and that includes these two Black men.”
What did you think of the way True Story portrayed women? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
Not every film and show has to tell every single story or perspective. The director is right: if it’s a story about brothers, it’s about the brothers, not the women in their lives.
Two things can exist at the same time: the story can be about two brothers while also having female characters who are more than just window dressing or filler.
I enjoyed this story. Kevin Hart was excellent in this role. Wesley Snipes played his part too well, meaning I really disliked his character. Based on what I read in this article, I just don’t understand why there are rules about how many women, black, white, gay, straight etc. must be in a movie, TV show, commercial, etc. Is it not up to the writer to decide the characters and story. This short movie was about 2 brothers and their personal relationship. Yes, others are part of their lives and were given a story line that fit with the main story line. Enough of having to have a representative from all groups of life in a story. Face it, not all real life stories have that kind of inclusion, so why do entertainment stories (just make believe) have to have one. Relax and just enjoy a good short story with credible acting and directing. By the way, The Kid did NOT seduce the worker. Seemed mutual to me.
This was ridiculously inane.
Complaining about something that isn’t even close to being the primary concern or focus of the series, is just a stunning amount of grievance mongering.
This type of complaint would be justified if True Story had a wider narrative than the relationship between these men, but as Culpepper clearly notes it’s a story about two Black brothers.
Apparently there are too many of those types shows that requires something else to distract from that overrepresentation…
So you don’t think it’s problematic that 3 of the shows 4 women had sex with the main character? Sighhhhhhhhh.
Well one was at one time his wife and the other two were “groupies”. Famous entertainers have sex with groupies in real life too so I don’t see how that would be problematic.
How ironic the writer tried to gloss over “our” main complaint the substandard talent Hwood “face” casting of the women!! Wesley was the actor in Kevin’s “I love me” fest disguised as a series!! We didn’t like Kevin used his life although there were moments that seemed very passionate to Kevin (maybe real life events)! Mr Black Lightning actor and Wesley made this series for me!A lot of the rich jokes were insulting! Gene was great! Now The Harder They Fall casted “real” female “talent” Regina King so I’m good…
Oh my Juilliard alum child cracked my joke back at me “Mom you hate when scripts use curse words over better writing!!” Haha My rec holding buckeye loved meeting Kevin Hart/King James! “She” was treated with the utmost respect!!
The story was great, Kevin Hart don’t do films without theme, the theme of this story is I can’t cut you out of my life blood don’t choose you, and blood don’t lie. When he found out how shoddy his brother was. He knew he had to go also, so when he shot his brother it’s like am I my brother’s keeper, yes we are,great story, true story thank you I give it a 10 ❤ love it