The Fabelmans contains some awkward faith moments, but some great life lessons

Steven Spielberg’s latest film is a fictionalised account of his early life. Giles Gough takes a look at the childhood that shaped a Hollywood legend, and the faith themes contained in the movie

Whether you find him sincere or saccharine, Steven Spielberg is a true Hollywoood legend, directing some of the biggest films of the past four decades. So it’s with more than a little curiosity that we get to sneak a peek into the childhood that defined the man who has (arguably) defined cinema for a generation.

Set in the 50s and 60s, The Fabelmans is Spielberg’s fictionalised memoir. It follows Sammy Fabelman as he discovers and falls in love with cinema, while his parents’ marriage slowly drifts onto the rocks. Whether it works as a film is up for debate but, as it is clearly his most personal work to date, the chance to sit in on Spielberg’s public therapy session is hard to pass up.