Particles of Truth (2002)

45% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(928 ratings)

Lilli (Jennifer Elster, who also wrote and directed the film) is unhappy. She's a struggling artist, living in New York City and cynical about everything, including her own talent. Her father (Alan Samulski) is dying, and Lilli barely acknowledges his existence, while her mother (Susan Floyd),… More Lilli (Jennifer Elster, who also wrote and directed the film) is unhappy. She's a struggling artist, living in New York City and cynical about everything, including her own talent. Her father (Alan Samulski) is dying, and Lilli barely acknowledges his existence, while her mother (Susan Floyd), clearly divorced from reality, pretends that her husband left town years ago. The trauma of being raised by two junkies and of her parents' eventual breakup still affects all of Lilli's relationships and her view of herself. She's got a group show opening at a major gallery, but she doesn't even know if she wants to attend. One day she meets Morrison (Gale Harold of Showtime's Queer as Folk), an obsessive-compulsive poet who lives in relative luxury but is too afraid of germs to get out of his car when he first tries to talk to Lilli. While he's better off financially, Morrison has his own family problems, as his father (Larry Pine) and mother (Leslie Lyles) are keeping crucial secrets from each other. While they're attracted to each other almost instantly, Lilli and Morrison have a tremendous struggle ahead of them to forge any kind of moderately healthy relationship. Particles of Truth had its world premiere at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Jennifer Elster
Written By: Jennifer Elster
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Jun 14, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Jul 26, 2005
Studio: Hart Sharp Video

Critic Reviews

Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
While the film demonstrates some potential on the part of its filmmaker, especially in the acting department, it ultimately lacks the singularity to make it stand out among the glut of similarly themed entries.
Ronnie Scheib, Variety
This pretentiously titled, zero-budget N.Y. indie airily pulls off what Hollywood mightily strives for -- a believable romantic comedy.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
One of those painfully earnest -- and pretentious -- little indies in which a pair of emotional cripples neatly resolve all of their problems within 48 hours of meeting each other.
Laura Sinagra, Village Voice
Transcends its own considerable self-indulgence with sweet, believably tormented performances.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A complicated drama that explores the efforts of two oddballs to escape the limitations of their birth families and forge distinctive lives of their own.
Joshua Tanzer, Offoffoff
Particles of Truth is a low-budget indie that first seems scattered and off-putting but in time reveals its writer-director's considerable ability and artistic sense.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Though many of the risks she takes don't pay off, Elster's film contains a number of stylishly staged set pieces ... that mark her as a young filmmaker worth watching.
David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor
This uneven drama might have been more effective if someone with more on-screen charisma than writer-director Elster had played the main character.
Eric Campos, Film Threat
Quite an intense emotional rollercoaster with standout performances, especially from Elster.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
A me-me-me spectacle of unexamined grief that allows filmmaker Jennifer Elster to condescend to everyone but herself.