In this blog post, we’ll compare the documentary “Tupac: Resurrection” and the feature film “Notorious” to examine how each format differently portrays the events and characters and conveys emotions.

The Rise of Films Based on True Stories and the Need for Comparison

Recently, there has been a steady increase in feature films based on real-life events. In South Korea alone, works adapted from real events—such as ‘Crucible’, ‘The Conspirators’, ‘The Chaser’, ‘The Voice’, ‘Children’, ‘Broken Arrow’, and ‘The Itaewon Murder Case’—have been released year after year. Amid this trend, the question arises as to which approach is more effective or engaging: the “real documentary” format, which records events exactly as they happened, or the feature film format, which blends facts with some fiction.
To clearly compare these different formats, we need works that deal with the same events or figures but approach them in distinct ways. In this article, we will examine the differences in these formats by comparing two works that deal with two important figures in hip-hop history—Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac—namely the feature film ‘Notorious’ and the documentary ‘Tupac: Resurrection’.

Overview of the Works Being Compared

The feature film ‘Notorious’ is a narrative film told from the perspective of The Notorious B.I.G. It was directed by George Tillman Jr., produced in the United States, and has a runtime of approximately 122 minutes.
The documentary ‘Tupac: Resurrection’ is a documentary centered on Tupac’s voice (narration), directed by Lauren Rajin, produced in the United States, and running approximately 90 minutes. Although both works deal with the same era and group of figures, their formats and approaches are distinctly different.

Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. Background

Tupac Amaru Shakur was a hip-hop artist who sold over 75 million albums worldwide and also gained attention as an actor and social activist. His lyrics seriously addressed growing up amidst violence, the hardships of the ghetto, racism, and social issues, singing of equality and resistance. Although he was born in New York on June 16, 1971, he established himself as a leading figure in West Coast hip-hop.
Notorious B.I.G. (born Christopher Wallace) was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1972, and grew up in a harsh environment marked by poverty, the absence of his father, and involvement in gang activity and drug dealing during his teenage years. He gained a reputation for his exceptional rapping skills from a young age, and after his demo tape caught the attention of Puff Daddy, he began his professional career with Bad Boys Records.
Initially, the two maintained a good relationship and supported each other, but after Tupac was shot at a New York studio in 1994, suspicion and hostility grew, escalating into a conflict between East Coast and West Coast hip-hop. Songs like Tupac’s “Hit ‘Em Up” and Biggie’s “Who Shot Ya” reflect the emotional rift of that era.
Ultimately, Tupac was killed by an unknown assailant, and six months later, Biggie was shot while in a car during a visit to the West Coast, dying in 1997 at the age of 25. These two tragedies left a profound impact on hip-hop history and popular culture.

Structure and Features of the Documentary ‘Tupac: Resurrection’

‘Tupac: Resurrection’ uses Tupac’s narration as its central axis to reflect on his life and philosophy. The opening begins with California’s nightscape, intricate camera movements, and helicopter footage; as gunshots ring out and the screen fades to black, Tupac’s voice opens the narrative. The camera drifts like his soul, naturally transitioning to scenes from the past.
This documentary combines various archival materials—such as landscapes, archival footage, photographs, music videos, and interviews—to depict Tupac’s childhood and upbringing. In particular, it explains the roots of the racial discrimination and social oppression Tupac experienced, as well as the resulting anger and resistance, by highlighting the fact that his mother was a civil rights activist.
Growing up in poverty, Tupac made a living through drug dealing and dancing at nightclubs, eventually seizing an opportunity in the hip-hop scene to begin rapping. By highlighting childhood photos, archival footage, and his early career, the documentary demonstrates how his music expanded personal suffering into universal pain, conveying a social message.
Through education, Tupac developed the ability to analyze society, and through rap, he sought to expose the inequality and violence he witnessed. The documentary highlights that he was not merely an entertainer but a social commentator, drawing on his experiences with police brutality, arrests, legal battles, and remarks made on talk shows.
Meanwhile, the documentary covers Tupac’s acting career (the films ‘Juice’ and ‘Poetic Justice’), the controversies surrounding it, his repeated arrests (mentioned as occurring about 12 times), and the conflicts between his personal life and his art. Additionally, the production team combines music, footage, and narration to dramatically convey Tupac’s determination to change the world.

The Impact of Format on Narrative Effectiveness — A Brief Reflection

The documentary directly links Tupac’s voice with archival footage to emphasize realism and personal authenticity. He narrates his own experiences, appealing directly to the audience, while the archival footage provides evidence and context to support his claims. This approach is highly effective in helping viewers understand the subject’s inner world and social background.
In contrast, the feature film format reconstructs events using dramatic devices and narrative editing to induce emotional immersion in the audience. Even when depicting the same events, the message and impression conveyed can vary depending on the actors’ performances, dialogue structure, editing, and soundtrack. Therefore, which format is more effective depends on the intended purpose—whether it is the verification and documentation of facts, or emotional empathy and drama.
Ultimately, narrative-driven documentaries like ‘Tupac: Resurrection’ and feature films like ‘Notorious’ are complementary. One provides facts and context, while the other allows viewers to experience the events through emotion and narrative. Viewing both formats together allows for a more multidimensional understanding of the figures and events involved.

Tupac’s Story

Tupac deeply respected the fans who loved him and valued his diverse fan base—comprising both Black and White people—equally. He constantly spoke about the identities that shaped him at age 22, introducing the concept of “thug life.” While the public and media often interpreted this as a criminal gang, Tupac himself explained it as a group of people from the ghetto who stood in solidarity, played a positive role in society, and fought for Black values.
Meanwhile, Tupac caused numerous controversies that were difficult to judge rationally—including disputes with the media, conflicts with directors, and criticisms of figures like Spike Lee and Eddie Murphy—and became embroiled in repeated legal troubles and incidents. The media published reports accusing some women of being prostitutes, and Tupac publicly criticized women who hurt men and were only interested in money.
A sexual assault case arose, and although Tupac claimed it was a misunderstanding, he was ultimately punished. While awaiting trial, he was shot five times at a studio and underwent emergency surgery, but survived. The incident left Tupac deeply distrustful and led him to suspect Notorious B.I.G. and the police. Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy explained on air that they had been filming a music video, but Tupac openly expressed his pain and suspicion.
Believing that staying in the hospital was more dangerous than his injuries, Tupac was discharged early and was later convicted of the sexual assault and imprisoned. In prison, he realized that he was just one of many and that respect is earned through mutual respect. In interviews, he sometimes speaks of his prison life as if it were an interesting memory, because he felt he had learned to see the world through a new lens.
While in prison, Tupac continued his inner reflection by reading many books and writing scripts, even as he recounted the small details of daily life—the terrible food, the jelly with hair in it, and the cook’s stories. However, he says prison wasn’t a place that inspired him, so he wasn’t able to write lyrics. During this time, he also mended his relationship with his mother, and eventually, Shuck Knight, the head of Death Row Records, posted bail of approximately $1.4 million. In exchange for his release, Tupac signed a record deal and returned to LA to resume his glamorous lifestyle and musical career.
Even after his return, various lawsuits and controversies continued, but Tupac seemed to be making a comeback, achieving success on the charts. He released a song dissing Notorious B.I.G., whom he suspected of shooting him, and continued his criticism on the airwaves. However, while heading to a club with Shuck after watching a boxing match, he was shot and fell into critical condition. Although fans gathered outside the hospital holding candles to watch over him, he ultimately passed away.
After his death, a scene at the Grammy Awards showed the two men’s mothers taking the stage, embracing each other, and reconciling. The film depicts Tupac’s past, his values, and the message he conveys to his fans—a lesson to be strict with oneself. The contrast between the opening scene, where Tupac’s spirit appears to enter the vast natural landscape of the West, and the final scene where he emerges from nature, visually encapsulates his life and message.

The Story of Notorious

The film ‘Notorious’ is a biopic that depicts the life of Notorious B.I.G. from his birth to his death in a dramatic narrative style. An interesting directorial choice is structuring the opening to mirror a scene from the middle of the film, first showing his dazzling debut and then immediately jumping back to his childhood. It draws the audience in with a narrative arc—his wanderings, the absence of a father, the struggles of fatherhood, the tension before his debut, and themes of love and crisis.
Unlike a documentary approach, this film features actors portraying the characters, using editing, camera work, and sound to convey emotion and energy. In particular, the street rap battle scenes from Notorious’s days as a drug dealer effectively convey his explosive talent and excitement through editing and music. While actual footage is included, its length and prominence are limited, allowing the film to flow as a narrative centered on reenactment.
In the film, even after getting a taste of money, Notorious decides to quit dealing drugs for the sake of his family when his daughter is born. He later becomes a star and grows into a figurehead of East Coast hip-hop, but ultimately dies after being shot during a visit to West Coast California. Notorious’s mother tried to dissuade him from visiting California, but to no avail.

Differences Between the Two Films

Although both works cover the same era and events, their approaches and intentions are distinctly different. Tupac’s film is documentary-style, conveying his voice and perspective honestly and directly through actual footage and photographs. In particular, Tupac’s doubts and anger, as well as the messages he sought to convey through his rap, are powerfully revealed. As a documentary, the power of factual material is significant, and at times, it subtly conveys the nuance of Tupac’s distrust toward Notorious.
In contrast, Notorious’s film follows the structure of a typical biopic, focusing on the dramatic reenactment of a figure’s life story. Actual footage serves only as a supplementary element, while the actors’ performances and directorial techniques take center stage. As a result, the audience feels as though they are watching a drama, and their attention is drawn more to Notorious’s life itself than to the message he intended to convey.
Several similarities can also be found in the lives of the two men. Both rappers grew up without fathers under the care of their mothers, who are portrayed as wise figures hoping their children would receive an education and lead better lives. Both became stars at a young age, were caught up in public attention and scandals while still immature, and possessed exceptional musical talent. However, poverty, crime, and conflict ultimately led both of their lives to tragedy.

Final Thoughts

Although both films deal with the same events, one chose documentary-style truth and the subjects’ messages, while the other opted for dramatic narrative and the subjects’ life stories. This difference significantly influences how audiences remember the figures and what questions they are led to ask. Personally, watching the two works side by side, the vividness of the documentary and the narrative appeal of the feature film each left a deep impression in their own way, and what struck me most was how the same events can be reconstructed into completely different stories depending on the perspective.