Last week, Dave Barber Cinematheque screened the 1989 dark romantic comedy The Unbelievable Truth, directed by American filmmaker Hal Hartley. The first film in Hartley’s Long Island Trilogy, The Unbelievable Truth is a bizarre watch that explores the trials and tribulations of a forbidden romance.
In the film, recent high school graduate Audry falls in love with Josh, a mysterious mechanic at her father’s auto shop rumoured to be a mass murderer. Audry’s father forbids her from starting a relationship with the older mechanic, which causes her to move to New York City to pursue a modelling career. The story then unravels into a messy narrative about a strained father-daughter relationship and forbidden love.
Despite the seemingly familiar themes, The Unbelievable Truth is anything but conventional. For example, Audry’s eccentric personality is almost comical — she is introduced to the viewer as a nihilistic teenager clad in black who is convinced a nuclear holocaust is nigh. During a fight with her modelling agent in New York City, she calms herself by pacing back and forth, reading aloud a book chapter about a post-apocalyptic world. The acting and dialogue in the film are often unnatural and awkward, but scenes like this demonstrate Hartley’s unique sense of humour.
In a blog post, film critic Roger Ebert described The Unbelievable Truth as a “strange mixture of melodrama and irony.” The film’s suburban characters seem like real people, but Hartley exaggerates their quirks just enough to make viewers question their believability.
For instance, Emmet, Audry’s jealous ex-boyfriend, only appears on screen to start fights with men who are interested in Audry. In another scene, a woman tries to flirt with Josh by using the same pick-up lines repeatedly to no avail. This was perhaps a farcical way to poke fun at people who cannot take no for an answer.
In terms of cinematography, The Unbelievable Truth is a breath of fresh air compared to the overstimulating CGI- and action-packed films found on today’s screens. Many scenes feature minimal background music, allowing the dialogue to stand on its own. The set and costume design also transport viewers to the unassuming-yet-charming world of suburban New York City in the 1980s.
However, it is difficult to overlook the problematic romance depicted in the film. In the final scene, it is revealed that Josh was falsely accused of murder and has been innocent all along. Audry and Josh then reunite as lovers while other couples are shown bickering with each other. This seems to be portrayed as a “happily ever after” moment, but it does not erase the fact that their relationship started when Audry was a minor.
Overall, The Unbelievable Truth is challenging and requires some degree of intellectualization, but the dry and ironic humour makes it an intriguing watch. Despite the film’s attempt at portraying a romantic relationship, some viewers will undoubtedly have trouble stomaching the unsubtle ephebophilia in this questionable rom-com.
Visit davebarbercinematheque.com for future screenings.
