The films of indie-darling Hal Hartley are defined by a distinct aesthetic featuring deadpan, philosophical dialogue; stylized acting; and meticulous, often theatrical, staging. The Unbelievable Truth, his debut feature, stars the late Adrienne Shelly—in her first film role—and Robert John Burke, both of whom appear in a number of Hartley’s later films. A college-bound girl (Shelly) preoccupied with the threat of nuclear destruction falls in love with an ex-con (Burke) who is rumored to have murdered the father of his high school sweetheart. Two 16mm short films by Hartley precede the screening.