Movies and TV shows like to portray the reality of their program by stating that it is “based on a true story”. As you have no doubt figured out, this really is so ambiguous that it means nothing. It could just indicate they got the idea from a true story. It doesn’t bind them to any commitment to accurately portraying real events. They can enhance, embellish and reinvent the subject matter any way they want to.
Which is okay I guess. As long as you keep in mind it’s just entertainment. It’s not history. It’s important to recognize events that really are true. For example, your faith can be based on a true story. The world has tried to edit it, misrepresent it, vilify it, and deny it. But the story survives in its original form.
And that’s one rerun that never gets old.
Salvation is by no other name, Jesus.