the movie is mostly autobiographical.
It seems some viewers don't realize this, the writer-director Maya Forbes was the oldest daughter in the movie set in 1978. Her screenplay changed the last names but her father really was Cam (died in 1998) and her mother is Peggy, and her life in 1978 through 1980 was pretty much what is depicted in this movie. So we probably can assume it is all pretty accurate.
And, for those who may not yet realize it, the older daughter in the movie is played by the writer's real daughter, Imogene.
Here is a good article related to all this:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-polar-bear-maya-forbes-20150618-story.html
..*.. TxMike ..*..
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