Is Good Grief Based on A True Story? Movie's Inspiration Explored

The Emmy-winning creator of Schitt's Creek, Dan Levy, has recently released his debut feature film on Netflix titled Good Grief. Considering that the film was initially promoted as a rom-com and has now turned into a 'drama-comedy', what inspired Levy to write the movie? Is Good Grief based on a true story?

Is the Good Grief Movie Based on a True Story?

Credit: Netflix

Levy shared the story of where he found his inspiration to write Good Grief on Entertainment Weekly. Good Grief was initially a romantic comedy, up until he realized that 'whatever the press got out' was a different take from what eventually solidified his story.

The Schitt's Creek creator added that there were two inspirations behind Good Grief's script: his grandmother and the complicated relationship of friends.

Apart from highlighting how uncomfortable conversations tend to bring out the hidden intimacy in these friendships, he started contemplating on what 'right' way is there to grieve.

In explaining the core aspect of the film, Levy told Attitude:

"This is me examining my own life and relationships and how much they mean to me, particularly now. I'm single. As a single guy, my friends are everything. As a gay guy, found family is such a part of our identity."

Dan Levy had written over 80 episodes of the Canadian television sitcom Schitt's Creek. The show tackled similar themes, most especially on found families, so it's no wonder that Good Grief would reflect the debut helmer's real life on his newest project, as well.

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Good Grief Explores A Deeper Kind of Love in Mourning

Good Grief doesn't just focus on the love story and grieving the loss of Marc over his deceased husband, but rather an exploration of expanding his relationship with his two friends on their trip to Paris.

As Levy said, unpacking the uncomfortable silences brings the deeper part of any form of relationship.

In another interview (via British Vogue), Levy sought out Good Grief as a way of self-reflection and his 'greatest expression' of his grief:

"This movie was the greatest expression of my grief. Sometimes when you don't have the words to speak, you have to turn to the page and put the words down."

The official synopsis for Netflix's Good Grief movie reads:

Marc (Dan Levy) was content living in the shadow of his larger-than-life husband, Oliver (Luke Evans). But when Oliver unexpectedly dies, Marc's world shatters, sending him and his two best friends, Sophie (Ruth Negga) and Thomas (Himesh Patel), on a soul-searching trip to Paris that reveals some hard truths they each needed to face.

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