Themes: Breakups and Divorces, Infidelity, Self-Destructive Romance
Main Cast: John Ventimiglia, Kyra Sedgwick, David Warshofsky, Brian Tarantina, Mara Hobel, Parker Posey, Fairuza Balk
Release Year: 2001
Country: US
Run Time: 85 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Three women whose lives have followed very different paths ponder their pasts and their futures in this omnibus film from second-time director Rebecca Miller, adapted from her acclaimed short story collection of the same name. Delia (Kyra Sedgwick) grew up in a fractured household; her mother abandoned the family when Delia was a child, and her father (Brian Tarantina) was a drug-addled loser who could barely be prodded off the couch. When she entered adolescence, Delia realized that she could use her body to get men to do as she pleased. While this gained her a feeling of power and self-sufficiency, it also earned her a reputation as the "class slut," and the end product was her marriage to Kurt (David Warshofsky). Greta (Parker Posey) is the daughter of a successful lawyer (Ron Leibman) who left her mother when she was young and offered Greta criticism rather than affection. Plagued with self-doubt, Greta is squandering her literary talents editing cookbooks and is married to Lee (Tim Guinee. When Thavi (Joel de la Fuente), a respected and successful young novelist, asks Greta to edit his next novel, it forces her to reassess herself on a number of levels. Finally, Paula (Fairuza Balk), yet another product of a fractured family, ran away from her mother and was homeless until she met Vincent (Seth Gilliam), who took her in and became her boyfriend. A year later, Paula is uncertain in her feelings about Vincent, unsettled to learn that she's pregnant, and startled after witnessing a murder while out clubbing with a friend; she hits the road again, and soon picks up a fellow alienated teen, Kevin (Lou Taylor Pucci), who bears the scars of a recent -- and very brutal -- beating. Personal Velocity: Three Portraits was honored with the Grand Jury Prize at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
This assured and cleverly written second film from director/writer Rebecca Miller comes in three parts, all well acted and engaging. The narration by John Ventimiglia is particularly lively. The three characters that the film focuses on -- Delia (Kyra Sedgwick), Greta (Parker Posey), and Paula (Fairuza Balk) -- are all forced to make tough decisions. Delia is fleeing an abusive husband and must begin to create a new life for herself and three kids. She's one tough cookie, striking out at everyone who's trying to help her along the way. The dramatic and emotional scenes in this story will resonate with women trapped in abusive relationships, and Kyra Sedgwick is fantastic. Then there's the more upper-class story of Greta, who's on the move in the publishing business and slowly coming to the revelation that she must leave her nice-guy husband behind. This bit is more humorous and entertaining than the other two parts. The last story is about the semi-homeless Paula, who is also running away from a relationship and, in her case, pretty much everyone. This story is the least deeply felt of the three, and Paula seems a little bit like a sketch of many other runaway characters from various movies. A huge hit at Sundance, Personal Velocity epitomizes quality independent filmmaking and deserves a large audience. ~ Adam Bregman, All Movie Guide
Leo Fitzpatrick - Mylert; Tim Guinee - Lee; Wallace Shawn - Mr. Gelb; Joel de la Fuente - Thavi; Ron Liebman - Avram; Josh Phillip Weinstein - Oscar; Ben Shenkman - Max; Lou Taylor Pucci - Kevin; Seth Gilliam - Vincent; David Patrick Kelly - Peter; Patti D'Arbanville - Celia; Susan Blommaert - Mrs. Toron; Bill Burns - Court Steps Reporter; Tim Hopper - Mr, Brown, the Adventist; Marceline Hugot - Pam; Ron Leibman - Avram Herskovitz; Brian Bell - Playwright; Michi Barall - Felicia Wong; Peter Galman - Man in His 50's; Christopher Fitzgerald - Greg; Nick Cubbler - John Wurtzle; Nicole Murphy - May Wurtzle; Sarah Morf - Claire Wurtzle; Laura Finelli - Young Delia; Dean Strange - Norwegian Man; Maria Elena Ramirez - News Reporter; Angela Trento - Lola; Danielle Tagger - Marla; Tony Osso - Waiter; Monica Paskiewicz - Mimi; Quentin Mare - Darius; Kaluska Poventud - Maroushka; Francis Akins - Jesse; Jennifer Lent - Young Fay; Lynne Anne Hart - Mylert's Mother; Eileen Stancage - Old Woman; Corinne Brownsell - Dunkin Donuts Cashier; Eleanor Niel - Girl on Swing; Stephi Licciardi - Girl on Swing; Samantha Steinel - Girl on Swing
Credit
Cindy Tolan - Casting, Marie Abma - Costume Designer, Carrie Fix - First Assistant Director, Dan Brillman - First Assistant Director, Rebecca Miller - Director, Sabine Hoffman - Editor, John Sloss - Executive Producer, Caroline Kaplan - Executive Producer, Jonathan Sehring - Executive Producer, Sanna Reilly - Hair Styles, Tony Osso - Location Manager, Brian Bell - Line Producer, Jenny Schweitzer - Line Producer, Michael Rohatyn - Composer (Music Score), Sanna Reilly - Makeup, Carl Paulino Studios - Makeup Special Effects, Paul Mason - Makeup Special Effects, Judy Becker - Production Designer, Ellen Kuras - Cinematographer, Martina Radwan - Cinematographer, Gary Winick - Producer, Lemore Syvan - Producer, Alexis Alexanian - Producer, Barry London - Production Sound, Heather Loeffler - Set Designer, Maus Drechsler - Set Designer, Ira Spiegel - Sound Editor, Mariusz Glabinski - Sound Editor, 701 Sound - Sound Editor, Marlena Grzaslewicz - Sound Editor, Douglas Crosby - Stunts Coordinator, Gwen Bialic - Unit Production Manager, Rebecca Miller - Screen Story, Rebecca Miller - Screenwriter, Toshiaki Ozawa - Additional Cinematography, Jake Abraham - Post Production Supervisor, Angelique A. Pesce - Production Coordinator, Roberto Fernandez - Re-Recording Mixer, Wendy York - Script Supervisor, Rebecca Miller - Book Author, Ryan Collison - Foley Recordist, Brian Vancho - Foley Walker
Personal Velocity is a tale of three women who have reached a turning point in their lives. Delia is a spirited, working-class woman from a small town in New York state who leaves her abusive husband and sets out on a journey to reclaim the power she has lost. Greta is a sharp, spunky editor who is rotten with ambition. To spite the hated infidel ways of her father, she has settled into a complacent relationship and is struggling (not too hard) with issues of fidelity to her kind but unexciting husband. Finally Paula, who ran away from home and got pregnant, is now in a relationship she doesn't want. She's a troubled young woman who takes off on a journey with a hitchhiker after a strange, fateful encounter on a New York street.
Awards
Personal Velocity won the Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic Film and the Cinematography Award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.
