Particles of Truth

It's always the same, it's very rare, yet it resides in us all. To get at it we must dig deep, very deep. Kids think it's common, they see it every day on Playstation and Gameboy, yet that version of it is cheap and distorted. The real thing almost always brings teary eyes and that choking knot in your throat.

Our dreams and high aspirations are never reached without it. Those that have used it before, find it just as hard to muster the next time. It never gets easy. It can be seen in large groups, or in the complete isolation of the most inner sanctum. It can bring joy or sorrow, fame and fortune, or rack and ruin.

This wonderful movie is an example of it itself.

cour·age n

the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen course of action

Ray Smart Wilton, CT

There are, it seems, prototypes for all movie genres out there: there's the teenage prototype, the romance prototype, drama, comedy, etc. The new addition to genres combines all movies under a generalization - indie - that's all-encompassing, but cheaply made.

"Particles of Truth" may be the prototype for this genre. It's got everything every other indie film professes to have: "deep" insight with cliché observations on life; bad camera work that begs for a tripod; production that demands better lighting; unheard-of music; relatively unknown actors; drugs; depressed people; funny people; trashy people; people with parent problems (esp. with the father); and the we're-weird-but-we're-really-normal-in-light-of-everyone-else main characters.

While I'm sure that some people might find "Particles" to be a careful and mind-blowing and revolutionary examination of truth, to me, it's like every other "alternative" film out there. Not only that, but its indie pretension is unbearable; the unusual camera angles that are the mark of low-budget films are irritating, and one keeps thinking, "Jesus, will somebody please stand on a table whilst holding that camera or something?" Otherwise, all the butt shots and four-foot sitting-eye-level footage really take a toll on one's patience.

I suppose that's my biggest complaint against this film: nothing about it feels original, which seems against the MO of the entire institution of indie film-making. Aren't these films, which aren't produced by big companies with big company interests, supposed to reveal something new, something that wasn't exhaustively covered by studio films like Paramount or Warner Brothers?

First the bad news: Particles of Truth is a real mope fest of self-pitying characters, each trying to out- dysfunction the other.

The main character, Lily (writer, producer, director & star Jennifer Elster) is an emotional mess because she was the product of a screwed up family (surprise!). She is an unappealing and unsympathetic character and that is the crux of the problem with the film.

Another problem is that none of this suffering is, in any way, new or interesting. We've seen all these gritty, pathetic people before. To make matters worse, some of the dialogue is cringingly pretentious.

Now the good news: Queer as Folk's Gale Harold is great as Morrison, a reclusive germ-fearing writer. He is the strongest, most likable and most realistic character in the bunch. He and Lily develop a tenuous relationship that scares her to the point of puking in his antiseptic bathroom. Despite Morrison's fears, he admits to Lily that he cares about her and proves it by venturing into the subway to find her (a germophobe's nightmare). He also manages to pull himself together to attend her art show.

There is real chemistry between Lily and Morrison and there is something endearing about watching these two people, who find it so hard to function in the world, manage to come together.

The soundtrack is great too.

Oh, and Gale Harold looks better in a shower cap than any man has a right to.

A very grim effort, well acted. Larry Pine, for example, gives one of many understated performances. Taj Crown is hilarious as a stoned pizza shop worker.

I commend Elster for not letting the angst-addled script and her relative inexperience go by the wayside of over-the-top performances.

I saw it on the Sundance Channel during their New Voices night. I wish Elster the best but if I had the chance to do it again-I wouldn't.

If I want to see pain, suffering, depression and agony, I'll make a movie of my own life.

Particles Of Truth is an intelligent and thought provoking film. I was fortunate enough to catch it on the Sundance Channel's (New Voices). I did not know what the film was going to be about but the opening sequence drew me right in. The intense subject matter, combined with Elsters ability to make me laugh, made it a hopeful ride. Rarely do i see independent films that are sincere and meaningful. This is a standout first time feature film.