Marianne Jean-Baptiste is tremendous as a woman constantly beset by anger, fear and depression in Mike Leigh’s searing character study Hard Truths.
Portrait of pain
by Chris DrewHard Truths
[rating=4]
CAUTION: Here be spoilers
In writer/director Mike Leigh’s first contemporary film for 14 years, Pansy (Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Secrets and Lies) lives in London with plumber husband Curtley (David Webber, Captain Phillips) and 22 year-old son Moses (Tuwaine Barrett, Back to Black) while spending time with hairdresser sister Chantal (Michele Austin, Another Year).
Hard Truths is character driven throughout, working as an inverse Happy-Go-Lucky – Leigh’s 2008 film followed Sally Hawkins’ relentlessly upbeat Poppy interacting with people while here we see permanently ill-tempered Pansy battling anyone in her path.
Pansy is perpetually in pain, always tired and often sleeping during the day – there is a recurring theme of her waking in a fright – and gets angry at anyone and anything. She is always on edge, her extraordinary reaction to seeing a fox in the garden has to be seen to be believed.
Nobody is safe from the vicious barbs Pansy spits out: checkout workers, sales assistants, trainee doctors, dentists and certainly family members. “Unacceptable” is her constant catchphrase.
Her attitude and actions have a huge effect on the wellbeing of her husband and son. Curtley looks on rather helpless and lost while introverted Moses appears sad, seemingly lacks confidence and spends his time walking with his headphones on or silently playing video games in his room.
Pansy’s family is in huge contrast to Chantal and her girls Kayla (Ani Nelson, Crooked House) and Aleisha (Sophia Brown, Disobedience). They are energetic and upbeat, having fun when they talk to each other. Chantal shows motherly concern but in a subtle way and is never heavy-handed.
The sisters visit their mother’s grave, with an emotional scene culminating in Chantal telling Pansy “I don’t understand you, but I love you.”
After that things come to a head during a Mother’s Day lunch where Pansy admits to feeling lonely and wanting everything to stop. Then, in front of all the family, she shockingly starts to laugh which gradually turns into uncontrollable crying with the camera locked on Jean-Baptiste’s face.
Fortunately, Leigh infuses his screenplay with humour throughout with Pansy’s grumpy observations including fat babies wearing unnecessary pockets, dogs wearing coats, and outrage at cheerful charity workers after her postcode.
Pansy is one of the great Mike Leigh characters and Marianne Jean-Baptiste sinks her teeth into the role giving a truly tour-de-force performance.
Reuniting with the director for the first time since her Oscar-nominated breakthrough in Secrets and Lies, Jean-Baptiste captures Pansy’s endless pain and irritability perfectly with her anxious breathing meaning that Pansy is never restful and calm. She is compelling to watch throughout and is certainly deserving of many plaudits in the coming awards season.
Austin does wonderful work as Chantal, radiating natural warmth and the depth of her concern for her sister while Webber and Barrett are excellent as the immediate relatives, defenceless in the firing line.
It is a thoroughly engrossing character piece and deserves to be considered amongst Mike Leigh’s best work.
Hard Truths premiered in Toronto, screened in San Sebastián and screened at the BFI London Film Festival on 14, 16 and 20 October and will be released in selected UK cinemas on 31 January 2025.
