Celebrated British filmmaker Mike Leigh has reunited with Secrets & Lies star Marianne Jean-Baptiste for his latest drama Hard Truths. The newly released trailer hints at an intense story centered around family conflict, set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this Friday.
In Hard Truths, Jean-Baptiste takes on the role of Pansy, a woman deeply embroiled in emotional turmoil, prone to explosive outbursts directed at her family. The trailer teases these moments of rage, as her sister, portrayed by Michele Austin, confronts her with a simple yet piercing question: “Why are you so angry? Why can’t you enjoy life?” Pansy’s response is immediate but unresolved, answering with a frustrated, “I don’t know!” Leigh’s latest project seems to dive into the complexities of family dynamics, unresolved pain, and the difficult process of reconciliation.
The trailer offers glimpses of a story packed with layers of emotional hardship, as Pansy struggles to come to terms with the past, attempting to bridge the chasm with her long-suffering sister. Leigh’s distinctive ability to explore the human condition is once again on display, promising a drama that looks at the uncomfortable, and often painful, truths that families must face.
Hard Truths is set to make its world premiere at TIFF’s prestigious Royal Alexandra Theatre. For Leigh fans, the pairing of the legendary director with Jean-Baptiste is a momentous event, marking their first collaboration since the critically acclaimed Secrets & Lies, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1996. In that film, Jean-Baptiste delivered a breakthrough performance as Hortense, a successful Black woman seeking out her birth mother, played by Brenda Blethyn. That role earned Jean-Baptiste an Academy Award nomination, solidifying her as an international star.
Leigh continues his tradition of collaborating with trusted creative partners for Hard Truths. Returning team members include producer Georgina Lowe, cinematographer Dick Pope, costume designer Jacqueline Durran, and production designer Suzie Davis. Composer Gary Yershon and casting director Nina Gold, both longtime Leigh collaborators, also play pivotal roles in bringing the film to life.
Bleecker Street has acquired U.S. distribution rights for Hard Truths and is set to release the film in theaters later this year. In the U.K., Studiocanal will distribute the film, while Cornerstone Films is overseeing international sales. The film is co-financed by Film4 and represents a joint production between Thin Man Films and The Mediapro Studio, with Creativity Media also playing a part in the project’s production.
With Hard Truths, Mike Leigh once again dives into a subject he knows well—family relationships—offering a raw, unfiltered look at the emotional battles that occur behind closed doors. As TIFF audiences prepare for its premiere, anticipation is high for another powerful drama from one of the industry’s most revered directors.
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