《真实电影》取材于1973年播出的纪录片剧集《一个美国家庭》(An American Family),这部剧集讲述了圣芭芭拉的一个普通家庭——劳德一家的故事。正在闹离婚的帕特-劳德与比尔-劳德夫妇是一对典型的美国中产阶级代表,他们共同抚养了四个孩子,其中大儿子兰斯公开宣布自己是同性恋。该片不仅着力反映整个社会对家庭内部矛盾的影响,在当时也鲜有电视作品表现同性恋话题。而《真实电影》则走进了这部剧集的幕后,讲述了电影人克雷格-吉尔伯特如何打造出这部意义深刻的电视纪录片作品。
In this family saga, Mrs. Parkington recounts the story of her life, beginning as a hotel maid in frontier Nevada where she is swept off her feet by mine owner and financier Augustus Parkington. He moves them to New York, tries to remake her into a society woman, and establishes their home among the wealthiest of New York's high society. Family and social life is not always peaceful, however, and she guides us, in flashbacks, through the rises and falls of the Parkington family fortunes.