Hard Truths (2024) - Film Review

      Hard Truths, 2024.

      Written and Directed by Mike Leigh.

      Starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, David Webber, Tuwaine Barrett, Elliot Edusah, Tiwa Lade, Jonathan Livingstone, Samantha Spiro, Sophia Brown, Hiral Varsani, and Bryony Miller.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Pansy is a woman overwhelmed by anger and depression, hypersensitive to even the smallest slight, and always on the verge of losing her temper. She relentlessly criticizes her husband and their adult son to the point where neither of them feels the need to respond. Pansy frequently picks fights with strangers and salespeople, listing the world's innumerable faults to anyone willing to listen, particularly her upbeat sister Chantelle, who, despite their contrasting natures, might be the only one who can still empathize with her.

      During one of Pansy's usual tirades (vividly portrayed by Marianne Jean-Baptiste, showcasing deep-seated pain), her husband Curtley (David Webber) attempts to correct her, murmuring, “It’s called The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.” At this point, we still lack clarity about Pansy and what consistently provokes her anger, but it remains an “uh-oh” moment. However, before the audience can even process this, she responds with such sheer rudeness, illustrating why her family would rather endure the verbal assaults than confront her, gently correct her, or try to discuss what is troubling her.

      Pansy’s 22-year-old son Moses (Tuwaine Barrett) appears to be a hopeless case, living with his parents, shy, lacking direction, and neglectful of his surroundings. One can't help but wonder if her abrasive nature has contributed to his current state. Meanwhile, Curtley communicates little and shows no affection. Who could blame him? Pansy irrationally reacts to even trivial matters, often resorting to body-shaming, making extreme allegations, verbally attacking people doing their jobs (though one might interpret this physically), distorting logic to cast others as provocateurs, and being generally disagreeable to anyone in her vicinity.

      One might be tempted to describe her as a cartoon character brought to life, yet Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s portrayal avoids being cartoonish or humorous (this isn’t a scenario akin to Billy Bob Thornton's Bad Santa, where her anguish and anger are played for laughs), even if her sharp remarks occasionally elicit a chuckle. Her performance is profoundly moving and somewhat uncomfortable, which likely explains the film's occasional focus on supporting characters. There’s sweet relief in every brief moment away from Pansy, yet a desire to return to her remains in hopes of understanding her better. This is a woman who complains while her kind-hearted sister Chantelle (Michele Austin, exuding the complete opposite energy of her sibling) visits to style her hair, suggesting that everyone knows resisting her is futile.

      During that visit, it becomes clear that Mother’s Day is approaching and that the sisters have recently lost their mother. They also cope with grief differently. To put it bluntly, Pansy has no reasonable justification for her treatment of others in casual encounters. Within her family, there are shifting dynamics and underlying truths that illuminate her behavior. The performances capture the subtle power of facial expressions, silence, and the characters’ movements through their environment and lives. Still, some of these revelations tread on well-worn clichés.

      Fortunately, these moments aren’t presented as overly sentimental, allowing the actors to express a great deal without many words, letting reactions like prolonged laughter and tears convey the necessary emotions. Mike Leigh skillfully reveals information that reshapes our understanding of Pansy and her tumultuous family dynamics, providing enough substance to reflect on and recontextualize.

      However, the strength of the main performance surpasses the script and storytelling, highlighting perhaps the hard truth of Hard Truths.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is part of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He also serves as the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at [email protected]