Oscar-nominated film To Leslie just recently debuted on Netflix and has already been receiving tons of buzz from reviewers and subscribers alike. The emotional drama first premiered in 2022 at South by Southwest and was an instant hit, mainly due to the brilliant banter between co-stars Andrea Riseborough and Marc Maron. The film centers on Riseborough, who portrays a West Texas woman living out of a motel in the throws of her alcoholism, while Maron portrays the motel’s empathetic manager. The movie had a limited release in theaters on October 7, 2022, before finding its new home on Netflix on June 1, 2023.
Written by Ryan Binaco, the movie serves as Michael Morris‘ (Better Call Saul) directorial debut and also features Allison Janney, Andre Royo, Own Teague, Stephen Root and James Landry Hébert.
Now on Netflix, To Leslie is a film that you’re going to want to stream according to Decider’s John Serba. As all eyes are now on Morris’ film, many are left wondering about his inspiration for the movie.
Is To Leslie based on a true story? Here’s everything you need to know about the movie’s origins.
Is To Leslie on Netflix Based on a True Story?
Yes, To Leslie is loosely based on real events. Inspired by screenwriter Ryan Binaco’s late mother, the film follows a West Texas woman, six years after winning $190,000 in the lottery, who has hit rock bottom and is now forced to face her life choices and the son she’s left behind. With nowhere to go, Leslie turns to her estranged friends and family only to end up burning her bridges even further. The only two people she finds comfort in are Sweeney (Maron) and Royal (Royo), who run The Royal Hotel where she had been staying.
In an interview with the National Board of Review, director Michael Morris opened up about the real-life inspiration behind the film. “Ryan wrote this script and had been brought up by a version of Leslie. But it’s important to note that Leslie, as embodied by Andrea (Riseborough) in the film, is not Ryan’s mother,” said Morris.
He added: “This is very much a film, and a character that was built by Andrea in every beat of the film Ryan wrote this script to try and understand his mother and the pain she dealt with, often by herself, and to work through the pain he had growing up without his mother for much of his young life.”
Riseborough also spoke about the inspiration behind her character in an interview with Deadline. “It’s written from the perspective of a child who watched their mother experience this very same thing. It’s as if Ryan has given his mother, who was from a very different place and background, a chance at redemption,” she said.
Binaco, however, has not publicly shared personal details about his mother’s life.
To Leslie is currently streaming on Netflix.