Personal Velocity: Three Portraits

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Personal Velocity: Three Portraits ★★★ 2002 (R)

Fictional triptych of three New York women undergoing moments of epiphany. Delia (Sedgwick) summons the courage to take her children and leave her broke, abusive spouse and Catskill trailer life. Greta (Posey), a Manhattan cookbook editor realizes that her work does have merit but in order to really move forward in life she needs to leave her slouch of a husband. And finally Paula (Balk), a pregnant, misdirected young woman driving nowhere in particular, connects with her maternal instincts through an encounter with a hitchhiker. Ellen Kuras's cinematography is notable in its attention to detail and Miller (playwright Arthur's daughter) mixes great storytelling with flashbacks, montages, and narrator commentary to provides a well-rounded understanding of each situation, leaving final judgment to the audience. 86m/C VHS, DVD . US Kyra Sedgwick, David Warshofsky, Leo Fitzpatrick, Brian Tarantina, Mara Hobel, Parker Posey, Tim Guinee, Joel de la Fuente, Wallace Shawn, Ron Leibman, Josh Weinstein, Ben Shankman, Fairuza Balk, Seth Gilliam, David Patrick Kelly, Lou Taylor Pucci, Patti D'Arbanville; D: Rebecca Miller; W: Rebecca Miller; C: Ellen Kuras; M: Michael Rohatyn; Nar: John Ventimiglia.