Trust (1990)

In this episode of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael discuss Trust (1990), Hal Hartley’s breakthrough indie film that blends romance, comedy, and philosophical inquiry with a distinctly deadpan tone. Centered on the unlikely connection between Maria and Matthew, the film reframes young love as an act of resistance against social expectation and emotional inertia. Through the show’s voice note conversation format, the hosts talk about Hartley’s stylised dialogue, rigid framing, and minimalist performances, and how these choices create a world that feels both artificial and emotionally sincere. They explore the film’s relationship to American independent cinema at the start of the 1990s, its scepticism toward institutions, and its belief in honesty as a moral position. They also discuss how Trust balances irony with genuine feeling, why its awkward tenderness still resonates, and how Hartley’s precise, controlled style turns small gestures and conversations into quietly radical moments.