Hard Truths Film Review
“Hard Truths” is all about an abrasive lady with the unfortunate name, Pansy. Proving she does not live up to her namesake, this character is actually a fierce, fiery, and foul-tempered woman. This character study is a drama that looks at how she navigates daily life with intriguing results.
This film is the latest one from revered director, Mike Leigh. Like Ken Loach, Leigh is renowned for capturing modern, British life in celluloid. Except that in the former’s case, it is less social justice warrior and more angry realism, as this character has more in common with “The Thick of It’s Malcolm Tucker” than a modern-day Mother Teresa.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste is downright brilliant as Pansy. She and Leigh had previously worked together on the opus, “Stars and Lies.” Leigh is an interesting director, often bringing an overarching concept but allowing the actors to improvise and fill in the dialogue themselves. The result is quite a rich and realistic-feeling tapestry.
In stark contrast to Pansy is her baby sister, Chantelle (Michele Austin). The latter is a kindly hairdresser who oozes warmth and laughter. Where Pansy has a long-suffering husband (David Webber) and an unemployed son (Tuwaine Barrett), Chantelle has two accomplished daughters working in law and marketing. Chantelle’s life and house are filled with laugher and love, Pansy’s feels starkly clinical.
How much you enjoy this film will come down to your thoughts on Pansy. If you find her insufferable this could be a long 97 minutes. Personally, I found her rants really comical (like why do baby clothes need pockets?) and it was interesting to see some mysterious aspects of her character unfold in real-time. One criticism is that the ending felt quite rushed and unresolved. But despite this, the film does hold your attention and there’s no denying that Jean-Baptiste and Austin have an excellent chemistry.
“Hard Truths” is a real fly-on-the-wall drama about a London woman of Caribbean descent whose biggest enemy is herself. Leigh does an excellent job of showcasing some deeply flawed people and really sitting with their foibles. The result is a dark but truly human story.
About the Author
Natalie Salvo Natalie is a Sydney-based writer and lover of all things music, food, photography comedy, art, theatre. You can find her digging in crates at good record stores.
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