Hard Truths | |
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![]() U.S. theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Mike Leigh |
Written by | Mike Leigh |
Produced by | Georgina Lowe |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Dick Pope |
Edited by | Tania Reddin |
Music by | Gary Yershon |
Production companies |
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Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 97 minutes [1] |
Countries |
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Language | English |
Hard Truths is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Mike Leigh, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, and David Webber. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2024, and will be released in the United Kingdom in January 2025. [2] Hard Truths was theatrically released in the United States on 6 December 2024 by Bleecker Street. [3] [4] It received critical praise, with Jean-Baptiste receiving widespread acclaim for her performance, and was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review. [5]
Set in London, the plot follows the plight of depressed middle-aged woman Pansy and her relationship with her close ones—including the crumbling relationship with her jovial sister, Chantelle (who is a polar opposite in terms of mood), and the state of her other interpersonal relationships. [6] [7]
In February 2020, it was reported that Mike Leigh would begin shooting his latest film in the summer. [9] After a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced in February 2023 that the film would go into production that year. [10] In February 2024, it was reported that the film would star Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Michele Austin. Jean-Baptiste and Austin had previously collaborated with Leigh in Secrets & Lies. [11] [12]
Hard Truths premiered in the Special Presentations section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2024. [3] It also screened at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival and the 2024 New York Film Festival. [13] [14] The film had its United Kingdom premiere at the London Film Festival on 14 October 2024. [2] In the United Kingdom, StudioCanal will release the film in January 2025. [2] In Spain, BTeam Pictures will release the film on 28 February 2025. [15] In the United States, Bleecker Street will give the film a limited theatrical release in New York on 6 December 2024 followed by a nationwide release on 10 January 2025. [4] The film was rejected by Cannes and Venice, where Leigh had in previous years taken the top prize (the Palme d'Or and the Golden Lion, respectively), in addition to the Telluride Film Festival. [16]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 97% of 63 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.1/10.The website's consensus reads: "Marianne Jean-Baptiste puts on a prickly masterclass in Hard Truths, another superb character study from writer-director Mike Leigh." [17] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 87 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [18]
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated the film four out of five stars, describing it as "a deeply sober, sombre, compassionate drama about a black British family". [6]
Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste is an English actress. She is known for her role in Mike Leigh's drama film Secrets & Lies (1996), for which she received acclaim and earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe and BAFTA Award in the same category. Jean-Baptiste is also known for her role as Vivian Johnson on the television series Without a Trace from 2002 to 2009, and has starred in television shows such as Blindspot (2015–2016) and Homecoming (2018). She has since gained praise for starring in Leigh's drama film Hard Truths (2024).
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The 96th National Board of Review Awards, honoring the best in film for 2024, were announced on December 4, 2024. The musical fantasy Wicked, the first installment of a two-part adaptation of the stage musical of the same name, won the most awards with three: Best Film, Best Director for Jon M. Chu, and the NBR Spotlight Award for the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. It is the first fantasy film to win Best Film at this ceremony, as well as the first musical film to win the award since Moulin Rouge! (2001).
The 50th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, given by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), honoured the best in film for 2024. The awards were announced on December 8, 2023. Anora received the most awards with three wins, including Best Film, Best Lead Performance and Best Supporting Performance.
The 37th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards were presented to recognize the best in film of 2024. The nominations were announced on December 10, 2024. The Brutalist received the most nominations with nine, followed by The Substance with seven. Meanwhile, Anora, Nickel Boys and Wicked each received six nominations.
Anora star Mikey Madison won Best Leading Performance, along with Hard Truths star Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
Winner was Mikey Madison for Anora.