Sometimes when we’re lonely or discouraged, it can impact how we interact with the world. We can become withdrawn, or we can lash out. That interaction can have a big impact on those around us and can drag down our lives.
That’s a bit of the focus of the latest film from Mike Leigh, Hard Truths, which expands nationwide on Friday. The film opened in limited release to end 2024 and serves as a showcase for its performers, including Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Michelle Austin. Both could be on the short-list for an Oscar nomination. Now, audiences can see their film.
In the film, we meet two sisters. Pansy (Jean-Baptiste) is a vicious and caustic woman. She belittles and berates most everyone she comes across, including her husband and son. She causes scenes everywhere she goes, but mostly seeks to keep to herself at her home. She blames her health. She blames her family. She blames everything in her life for causing her to be this way.
Her sister, Chantelle (Austin), is nearly the opposite. She lives with her two daughters, and they have a rich, loving relationship. She is bubbly and fun, running a thriving hair business. She also tries to practice grace for her sister, despite the difficulty of the relationship.
When the two come together, it’s like oil and water. Despite that, Chantelle pushes Pansy to join her for Mother’s Day, visiting their own mother’s grave before a family gathering. It’s a day that brings their differences—and struggles—to life.
This is a quick film. It runs just about 90 minutes, so you don’t spend long with these characters. But they make a big impact in just a short span of time. That’s the power of Leigh’s script and direction. He brings these characters to life quickly and builds the world around them, drawing you into the story in a hurry.
But the reason you stay—and the reason it has an impact—is the performances. It’s very difficult to populate a wholly unlikeable character in a way that generates sympathy. And yet, Jean-Baptiste delivers just such a performance with just such a character. Pansy is caustic and difficult, but Jean-Baptiste finds the emotional core and in a few scenes can create something beautiful.
She finds a wonderful screen partner in Austin. The back-and-forth between these sisters is the heart of the film that brings out a big emotional response. I think both deliver excellent performances that should be on the short-list for the Oscar. It’s worth seeing this film for their work alone.
Hard Truths isn’t an easy film, but it sticks with you. It expands nationwide on Friday, January 10.