Hollywood vs. the Historians: Can We Know the Past?

What Historiography Shows Us about Finding the Truth

Last year as filmmaker Ridley Scott did the interview circuit to promote his movie Napoleon, Scott was asked by history podcaster Dan Snow about the problem of “accuracy” in his historical movies. What he would say to historians critical of his films?

Scott had a curious response: “I would say, ‘How would you know? Were you there?’” After a nervous laug…