Hal Hartley

Hal Hartley Trailers

Adrienne TrailerYears Later: The Unbelievable Truth and Its Consequences TrailerAdventure Trailer

Hal Hartley (born November 3, 1959) is an American film director, screenwriter, and composer, who became a key figure in the American independent film movement of the 1980s and 1990s. He is best known for his films Trust, Amateur and Henry Fool, which are notable for deadpan humour and offbeat characters quoting philosophical dialogue. His films provided a career launch for a number of actors, including Adrienne Shelly, Edie Falco, Martin Donovan, Parker Posey, Karen Sillas and Elina Löwensohn. Hartley frequently scores his own films using his pseudonym Ned Rifle, and his soundtracks regularly feature music by indie rock acts Yo La Tengo and PJ Harvey.

Most Popular Hal Hartley Trailers

Total trailers found: 50

The Making of 'Fay Grim' or: How Do You Spell Espionage? Trailer (2007)

22 May 2007

A short documentary about the making of 'Fay Grim.'

Ambition Trailer (1992)

31 January 1992

Follows a day in the life of a young artist who longs for professional success and the attention of beautiful women, but who encounters only frustration and violence.

Home of the Brave: A Film by Laurie Anderson Trailer (1986)

27 April 1986

A concert film directed by and featuring the music of Laurie Anderson, filmed at the Park Theater in Union City, New Jersey, during the summer of 1985.

My America Trailer (2014)

04 July 2014

21 monologues written by American playwrights form a sort of fractured portrait of the American collective psyche.

Simple Men Trailer (1992)

14 October 1992

Two diametrically opposite brothers set off on a journey to reunite with their estranged father but when their motorcycle breaks down while passing through a small town, they become entangled in local life.

Years Later: The Unbelievable Truth and Its Consequences Trailer (2010)

01 November 2010

A series of impromptu interviews with Hal Hartley, Adrienne Shelly, and some of Hartley's other most frequent collaborators on his style, career, and process.

Upon Reflection: The Making of Trust Trailer (2005)

01 January 2005

An 18-minute documentary made in 2005 by perennial Hartley actor D.J. Mendel, reunites the director and line producer Ted Hope with actors Adrienne Shelly and Martin Donovan for an off-the-cuff, affectionate, and surprisingly candid (it was hardly an easy shoot) recollection of their collaboration on the demanding Hartley's second feature.

Flirt Trailer (1995)

14 September 1995

The same situation is played out in different cities (New York, Berlin and Tokyo). A lover has to choose whether to commit to a partner who is returning home.

No Such Thing Trailer (2002)

29 March 2002

A young journalist journeys to Iceland to find her missing fiancé only to encounter a mythical creature who longs to die.

Amateur Trailer (1994)

05 August 1994

A man wakes up in an alley, bleeding and with no memory of who he is. He stumbles into a coffee shop and is befriended by a charitable ex-nun who is failing in her attempts to write marketable pornography.

In Bad Taste Trailer (1999)

03 September 1999

A documentary on the career of filmmaker John Waters. Featuring interviews with actors and fellow film-makers.

The Unbelievable Truth Trailer (1990)

20 July 1990

After serving time for murder, Josh Hutton returns to his home town where he meets Audry Hugo. No one can remember exactly what Josh did.

The Cartographer's Girlfriend Trailer (1987)

01 January 1987

Self-funded Hal Hartley project shot on 16mm with a focus on a somewhat bizarre romance.

Made in the USA Trailer (1993)

25 September 1993

A Paul Joyce documentary on the American independent film scene.

Regarding Soon Trailer (2004)

01 January 2004

A behind the scenes look, including an interview with Hal Hartley, surrounding his play "Soon," a production inspired by the 1993 events in Waco, Texas involving the religious sect called the Branch Davidians and their collision with the US Federal Government.

Flirt Trailer (1993)

11 September 1993

In New York, Bill struggles to decide whether he has a future with Emily, while attempting to restrain Walter, the angry husband of a woman he thinks he might be in love with.

Dogs Trailer (1988)

01 January 1988

A short film about friendship, disillusionment, loathing and despair, in which the pictures of three young men talking are juxtaposed with slowmotion shots of aggressive dogs.

Iris Trailer (1994)

22 February 1994

The job, should you choose to accept it: two young women playing out roles associated with the purchasing of real estate.

Kimono Trailer (2000)

04 June 2000

A hot summer day on a country road. A young woman in her bridal dress gets kicked out of a car. Lost and frustrated, she wanders off across a sea of grass into a dark wood - and discovers an abandoned house.

Fay Grim Trailer (2007)

18 May 2007

Many years after her notorious husband, Henry Fool, fled after killing a neighbor, Fay Grim receives a visit from CIA agent Fulbright, who tells her that Henry is dead, but that some of his journals have been unearthed in France.

NYC 3/94 Trailer (1994)

01 March 1994

The mundane circumstances of a city under siege.

Meanwhile Trailer (2011)

29 November 2011

Meanwhile concerns Joe Fulton, a man who can do anything from fixing your sink to arranging international financing for a construction project.

Adrienne Trailer (2021)

14 November 2021

As the muse of Hal Hartley’s indie classics and as writer/director of the critically acclaimed Waitress, Adrienne Shelly was a shining star in the indie film firmament.

Trust Trailer (1990)

09 September 1990

After being thrown away from home, pregnant high school dropout Maria meets Matthew, a highly educated and extremely moody electronics repairman.

The Book of Life Trailer (1998)

22 August 1998

New Year's Eve takes on new meaning when the Devil, Jesus Christ, and Christ's assistant Magdalena discuss and debate the End of the World.

El Planeta Trailer (2021)

24 September 2021

Amidst the devastation of post-crisis Spain, mother and daughter bluff and grift to keep up the lifestyle they think they deserve, bonding over common tragedy and an impending eviction.

Surviving Desire Trailer (1992)

22 January 1992

Jude, a college professor, is obsessed with Sophie, his student. She, in turn, is intrigued by his scholarly charm.

Where to Land Trailer (2025)

12 September 2025

Joseph Fulton, a famous director, wants to work at a cemetery. Meanwhile, he has his last will and testament drawn up.

Divine Trash Trailer (2000)

31 March 2000

The life and times of Baltimore film maker and midnight movie pioneer, John Waters.

Conspiracy Trailer (2010)

01 January 2010

A sort of birthday card for Dutch composer Louis Andriessen.

Milk and Honey Trailer (2003)

18 January 2003

Over one night in New York City, lives of disparate strangers intersect by fate and circumstance.

The Cloud of Unknowing Trailer (2002)

10 May 2002

A young doctor believes that the spirit of his late wife has possessed a troubled patient in his hospital.

Current Events Trailer (2012)

02 November 2012

A woman talks about how hard her life is.

Adventure Trailer (2010)

22 April 2010

Hartley and his wife, Miho Nikaido, travel to Japan to see her parents and reflect on 12 years of marriage, her career ambitions, and the adventures of growing older.

A/Muse Trailer (2010)

22 April 2010

An ambitious and idealistic young actress comes to Berlin to convince an American ex-pat filmmaker that she must be his next muse - the leading lady of his first great German film.

The Apologies Trailer (2010)

27 April 2010

A commercially realistic but artistically conflicted playwright lends his Berlin apartment to a young actress friend so she can rehearse her drama school audition while he goes off to save his doomed production in New York.

Henry Fool Trailer (1998)

19 June 1998

An egocentric bum transforms the lives of a shy New Jersey garbageman and his sister.

Theory of Achievement Trailer (1991)

07 March 1991

This short film was packaged on video with Hartley's featurette "Surviving Desire." It affectionately examines the lives of a group of "young, middle-class, white, college-educated, unskilled, broke, drunk" Brooklynites who would love to make something of their lives -- assuming they can pay the rent first.

The Other Also Trailer (1997)

05 June 1997

A minimalist, atmospheric, meditation on the theme of "Love" or "Amour" that focuses on reconciliation and forgiveness.

La Commedia Trailer (2014)

10 June 2014

Louis Andriessen's opera, based on Dante's Divine Comedy, plays out as a combination of a stage production and filmed elements, which sees Dante as a journalist, Beatrice as a Diplomat and Lucifer as a factory owner.

Ned Rifle Trailer (2015)

01 April 2015

Henry’s and Fay's son Ned sets out to find and kill his father for destroying his mother's life. But his aims are frustrated by the troublesome Susan, whose connection to Henry predates even his arrival in the lives of the Grim family.

Eye of God Trailer (1997)

17 October 1997

A small Oklahoma town is stripped of its innocence when one of its boys turns up mute and bloodied by the lakeside.

Implied Harmonies Trailer (2010)

22 April 2010

Hartley's conscientious assistant in Berlin receives weekly letters from her boss and sends him the books he needs as he struggles in Amsterdam to create the staging for Dutch composer Louis Andriessen's opera, "La commedia.

The Girl from Monday Trailer (2005)

26 January 2005

A comic drama about a time in the near future when citizens are happy to be property traded on the stock exchange.

The Sisters of Mercy Trailer (2004)

23 November 2004

A documentary concerning the periods between the actual takes during the production of Hartley's short film "Iris," revealing the imagination, diligence and patience that goes into composing a shot.

Kid Trailer (1984)

01 July 1984

Hal Hartley's senior thesis film from SUNY-Purchase. A young man attempts to leave his Long Island suburb, but is thwarted by a series of absurd obstacles.

Opera No. 1 Trailer (1994)

02 January 1994

A comical mini opera following the exploits of two goddesses interfering with the lives of mortals. Mistaken identities, miscast spells, and rollerblades abound.

Accomplice Trailer (2010)

22 April 2010

An artist-criminal far from home asks his assistant to pirate a rare videotape before the German Post Office Authorities come to confiscate it.

Excerpts from Soon Trailer (2004)

01 January 2004

Excerpts from performances of Hal Hartley's play "Soon", a production inspired by the 1993 events in Waco, Texas involving the religious sect called the Branch Davidians and their collision with the US Federal Government.

The New Math(s) Trailer (2001)

12 March 2001

This film is the visual component of the multi-media collaboration between the composer Louis Andriessen and Hal Hartley.