When is Fiction as Good as Fact? Comparing the Influence of Documentary and Historical Reenactment Films on Engagement, Affect, Issue Interest, and Learning Heather L. LaMarre School of Journalism and Mass Communication University of Minnesota Kristen D. Landreville School of Communication The Ohio State University This study advances documentary film effects research by comparing the influence of a political documentary with a historical reenactment film on narrative engagement, affect, learning, and interest. Using the Rwandan genocide as a context of study, a documentary film, The Triumph of Evil, and the historical reenactment fictional film, Hotel Rwanda, were examined. Results revealed significant differences between documentary and historical reenact- ment film exposure for affective responses and issue knowledge gain. However, increased issue interest and narrative engagement were not significantly Heather L. LaMarre (Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2009) is an assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. Her research examines the social-psychological processes and effects of strategic communications and campaigns in news and entertainment media. Kristen D. Landreville (M.A., University of Florida, 2006) is a doctoral candidate in the School of Communication at The Ohio State University. Her research interests include the pro- cesses and effects of political entertainment use with a focus on emotion and discussion. Correspondence should be addressed to Heather L. LaMarre, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota, 111 Murphy Hall, 206 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. E-mail: hlamarre@umn.edu Mass Communication and Society, 12:537–555 Copyright # Mass Communication & Society Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication ISSN: 1520-5436 print=1532-7825 online DOI: 10.1080/15205430903237915 537