OPINION: Flashbacks and the (Rare) Stories that Need Them

One of the major exceptions to the oft-repeated “show, don’t tell” screenwriting rule is the equally common received wisdom that screenplays should avoid using flashbacks. The criticisms are familiar from scores of screenwriting books. They weaken the dramatic tension, breaking up the momentum of the story to show the audience things that they either know or can work out. They’re a lazy way of revealing backstory. However sometimes, albeit rarely, a story absolutely needs flashbacks. The difficulty is in telling the difference.

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