HARD TRUTHS - ONE ON ONE WITH DIRECTOR MIKE LEIGH

British filmmaker Mike Leigh has brought us another gem with his latest film, Hard Truths.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste is creating Oscar buzz again – this time for her powerful performance in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths, a tough yet often darkly humorous study of family and the thorny ties that bind us.  The film reunites Jean-Baptiste and Leigh for the first time since Secret & Lies, which garnered both of them 1997 Oscar nominations.

 After his period pieces Mr Turner and Peterloo, Leigh now returns to the contemporary world – with a story set in London’s Black Caribbean community.  It centres on ironically named Pansy (Jean-Baptiste), a prickly middle-aged woman who seems to take exception to almost everyone and everything, from sale clerks to babies to pigeons.  Her tirades against her husband (David Webber) and son (Tuwaine Barrett) are so common, neither pays much attention.

 Meanwhile, Pansy’s younger sister Chantelle (Michele Austin, also a Leigh alumna) is a single mother, a hairdresser and a joyous soul who takes pleasure in the light gossip of her salon clients and the goings-on of her two daughters (Ani Nelson and Sophia Brown).  Even the sisters’ homes are different.  Pansy’s is stark.  Chantelle’s is full of light, color and another one of Pansy’s peeves – plants.  Truly, Chantelle might be the only person still capable of sympathizing with Pansy.  Question is: Why is Pansy so unhappy?

As usual, Mike Leigh used his legendary technique to create the film.  For months, Leigh worked individually with the actors to develop their characters and stories through improvisation.  Only then did he write the shooting script.

 This marks the 23rd feature by British writer/director Mike Leigh, whose films have won many accolades, including Cannes Palme d’Or (Secrets & Lives), Cannes Best Director (Naked) and Cannes Best Actor (Timothy Spall/Mr. Turner).  His films have received 16 Oscar nominations (seven of them for Leigh personally). 

I had the honour of speaking with Mike Leigh about Hard Truths via zoom from his home in the U.K.