Hard Truths
Nearly three decades after their Palme d'Or triumph with Secrets & Lies, director Mike Leigh and the fabulous Marianne Jean-Baptiste reunite for Hard Truths – a searingly honest and darkly comic film that had us laughing, crying, and reflecting. It’s safe to say this one's already an awards contender.
Leigh returns to contemporary storytelling in Hard Truths after dabbling in period dramas (Mr. Turner, Peterloo), with Jean-Baptiste playing Pansy – a woman teetering between an explosive rant and a full breakdown. The film feels like quintessential Leigh: raw, human, and deeply resonant. The film features an ensemble cast led by Jean-Baptiste's powerhouse performance, supported by Michele Austin, David Webber, and Tuwaine Barrett.
From a supermarket altercation to sharp-tongued diatribes, Jean-Baptiste's Pansy is no cartoonish caricature. Instead, Leigh explores her inner struggles, her fiery exterior masking deep pain, fears, and familial tension, which come to light in her exchanges with her son and her sister. With themes of kinship, duty, and the complexities of family relationships, Hard Truths strikes at the heart of what it means to love and endure through life’s challenges.
This marks Jean-Baptiste’s long-awaited return to a Leigh feature, and after being unjustly overlooked for her role in Secrets & Lies, there's already talk of awards recognition for her moving, unforgettable performance. Hard Truths is set to be released in the coming months. Don’t miss it!
