Whether it is an historical fiction film or an historical fiction novel, the basic premise of any such work is that the screenwriter/director/author can take creative license with the subject matter. I have read many historical novels that place real people from the past into fictional scenes, as well as utilize real events that are modified somehow to fit the story. While it can be disconcerting to viewers/readers, the very nature of fiction, even if historical, is to entertain, not be historically accurate. Your discussion of the topic is thoughtful and clear, yet as you point out, there is no easy solution. This is particularly problematic when the line between fact and fiction is intentionally blurred by that terror-filled phrase, “based on true events.”