Personal Velocity: Three Portraits (2002)

Three women's escapes from their afflicted lives. Each struggles to flee from the men who confine their personal freedom.

Director:

Rebecca Miller

Writers:

Rebecca Miller (book), Rebecca Miller

Stars:

Kyra Sedgwick, Parker Posey, Fairuza Balk

7 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kyra Sedgwick	...	Delia Shunt
Parker Posey	...	Greta Herskowitz
Fairuza Balk	...	Paula
John Ventimiglia	...	Narrator (voice)
Ron Leibman	...	Avram Herskowitz
Wallace Shawn	...	Mr. Gelb
David Warshofsky	...	Kurt Wurtzle
Leo Fitzpatrick	...	Mylert
Tim Guinee	...	Lee
Patti D'Arbanville	...	Celia
Ben Shenkman	...	Max
Joel de la Fuente	...	Thavi Matola (as Joel De La Fuente)
Marceline Hugot	...	Pam
Brian Tarantina	...	Pete Shunt
Seth Gilliam	...	Vincent

Storyline

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 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.

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Plot Keywords:

editor | hitchhiker | abusive husband | battered child | accountant | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for brief violence, some strong sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

United Artists

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 2003 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Enter Fleeing

Filming Locations:

Ellenville, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$125,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$29,943 (USA) (22 November 2002)

Gross:

$765,540 (USA) (17 January 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blue Magic Pictures, Goldheart Pictures, IFC Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Paula: I used to write. Then I used to paint. I think I'm going to be one of those people with a lot of potential who never really takes off.
Norwegian Man Who Dies with Paula: Those are always the best kind of people

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Crazy Credits

To my mother

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Connections

Featured in Personal Velocity: Creating 'Personal Velocity' (2003)

User Reviews

Stalled

I don't know why there are so many recent attempts at this sort of thing: individual episodes that approach and overlap the same concept. Perhaps it is because it is easier to craft episodes with power rather than worry about an arc of 90 minutes or more.

But we do have them. Some work amazingly well. I found 'Things you can tell' nearly lifealtering because of the crafty way all the actresses picked up each others' mannerisms to merge into the same woman. '!0 Conversations' was a different take, with the action all occurring in the same world. Less effective overall (with a more overt politics) but well structured.

This, however, is a mess. It bludgeons. It repeats. It insists on obviousness. No subtly is allowed: either an effect shouts or is bleached away. And the worst thing, the most damaging thing that can be said: there is no reward, no insight, no enrichment for the rawness we experience.

Wallace Shawn and a talented cinematographer wasted as well. Shame.

The reliable Parker Posey has a line so wonderful, so noticeably superior to all else, I am convinced she made it up: she says she needs to get an underwater camera.

Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 4: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.