The Unbelievable Truth

1989 Drama

Writer-director Hal Hartley's first feature -- shot in less than 12 days in his backyard for a mere $200,000 -- is a dry and dark comedy about the dangerous undercurrents that exist below the surface of normal middle class existence. Over the credits, Josh (Robert Burke), a man garbed in black, is seen hitch-hiking back to his Long Island home. People ask him, "Are you a priest?" and Josh responds, "No. I'm a mechanic." Back in Long Island in the town of Lindenhurst, beautiful and somber 17-year-old Audry (Adrienne Shelly) is busy worrying about the forthcoming apocalypse. Josh arrives in Lindenhurst and is hired by Audry's father (Chris Cooke) as a mechanic at his garage. But Audry's father worries about him, particularly when he falls in love with Audry. Her father's problems compound when Audry dumps her old boyfriend and rejects an invitation to attend Harvard. The whole town is now gossiping about Audry's new boyfriend, with rumors spreading that Josh is a mass murderer who killed two members of the family of local waitress Pearl (Julia McNeal). Pearl tells Audry, "He seems like a nice man." Audry responds, "Even though he killed your father and your sister?" Audry finally makes her father happy when she tells him she won't see Josh again, but dad's relief is short-lived when Audry informs him she's moving to New York to become an underwear model. more..

Director: Hal Hartley

Starring: Adrienne Shelly,Robert Burke, Christopher Cooke, Julia Mueller, Mark Bailey

Reviews

  • Hartley's debut deserves heralding; he combines a rigorous social conscience with the exuberance of fresh comic thinking.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    11 May 2013

  • The Unbelievable Truth captivates with its committedly off-center vision of suburban angst.

    - TV Guide

    11 May 2013

  • The unbelievable truth about The Unbelievable Truth is that this offbeat, accomplished darkish comedy is the feature film debut of its writer-director-editor-producer Hal Hartley, and lead actors Adrienne Shelly and Robert Burke.

    - The Washington Post

    11 May 2013

  • It's drifty, dreamy quality that, contrary to the film's indie-cool ingredients, makes it eminently watchable and modern.

    - Empire

    11 May 2013

  • What makes the film fun is the deadpan, tongue-in-cheek humor that undermines the seemingly sincere dramatic scenes.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    11 May 2013

Awards

  • Best Feature

    Chicago International Film Festival (1989)

     
  • Dramatic

    Sundance Film Festival (1990)