The Fabelmans is a deeply personal portrait of a twentieth-century American childhood, a cinematic memory of the forces and Family that shaped Steven Spielberg's life and career. The semi-biographical coming-of-age drama is an exploration of love, artistic ambition, sacrifice, and the moments of discovery that allow us to see the truth about ourselves and our parents with clarity and compassion. It is a universal story about an isolated young man's pursuit of his dreams.

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The Fabelmans, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Spielberg and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America) opens on 30 December, but has begun the awards season on a high note, garnering 5 Golden Globes nominations, including Best Actress, Best Director, Drama Motion Picture, Original Score and Screenplay.

The Fabelmans is an unofficial retelling of its writer and director, Steven Spielberg's, chaotic daily life. Sammy Fabelman is passionate about filmmaking, an interest shared by his artistic mother, Mitzi. Burt, Sammy's successful, scientific father, supports Sammy's work but regards it as a frivolous hobby.

Sammy has become the de facto documentarian of his family's adventures, as well as the director of his increasingly elaborate amateur film productions starring his sisters and friends, over the years. Sammy is the primary observer and archivist of his family's story by the age of 16, but when his family relocates west, Sammy discovers a heartbreaking truth about his mother that will redefine their relationship and change the future for himself and his entire family.

Gabriel Labelle (The Predator) plays Sammy, Seth Rogen (Steve Jobs) plays honorary "uncle" Bennie, Judd Hirsch (Uncut Gems) plays great uncle Boris, while Sammy's parents are played by Paul Dano (The Batman) as Burt, and Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) as Mitzi, a character based on Spielberg's mother. Williams has received 51 awards, including two Primetime Emmys and two Golden Globes and describes The Fabelmans as funny, sad and kind of everything... "the muchness of life".

The Fabelmans, according to ABC News, is "a personal best from Steven Spielberg in no small part because it's a family picture about Spielberg's own family. Sentimental? Sure. Sappy? Never. No movie this year cuts a clearer path to the heart and the power of imagination." It's attracted an 8.1/10 rating by consensus on IMDb as well as 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, which encapsulates the critic's overview as "Part memoir, part ode to the power of the movies, The Fabelmans finds Steven Spielberg digging at the family roots that helped make him a beloved filmmaker -- and proves he hasn't lost his magic touch.".

On December 18, Steven Spielberg will turn 76 years old. Although he is an inspiration to young filmmakers, it is surprising that he was rejected twice by the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinema Arts. Despite never making a dime from Schindler's List, the visionary director is almost entirely responsible for one of the year's highest-grossing films, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial starring Jaws was regarded as the first "summer blockbuster," grossing $60 million in its first month of release.