‘Hard Truths’: A Compelling And Realistic Character Study

Pansy (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a 60-something woman living in England, is a woman filled with anger. At first, she might appear like more chip than shoulder; she’s quick to criticise her husband Curtley (David Webber) and son Moses (Tuwaine Barrett), doesn’t seem to gel well with her content sister Chantelle (Michele Austin), and is a hypochondriac who’s quick to pick fights with strangers or people trying to help her. 

Yet it becomes quickly apparent throughout Hard Truths, a family drama/comedy from revered British filmmaker Mike Leigh, that there’s a deeper sadness within Pansy that’s causing her to lash out so regularly at those closest to her. Far more than just the tale of a woman with a mean streak, Hard Truths investigates tense family dynamics in a deeply human way. 

A substantial reason for the film’s success is Marianne Jean-Baptiste’s phenomenal performance as the depressed, anxious Pansy. Jean-Baptiste and Leigh have worked together before on Secrets and Lies, and that trust between these two artists is felt in every moment of her performance. 

Pansy’s relentless anger is a source of both anxiety and humour throughout the first half of Hard Truths, with her willingness to confront just about anybody often being exceptionally hard to watch. Jean-Baptiste really sells this seething rage within Pansy, from her intense voice to a resting fury on her face. 

Hard Truths delicately investigates anxiety and depression

In direct contrast, Pansy’s sister Chantelle is a lively, content hair salon owner and the single mum of two daughters (both of whom are equally energetic, but have their own issues). Michele Austin portrays Chantelle with such vivaciousness that it makes it all the more shocking that she and Pansy are sisters, with the two having vastly different outlooks on life as a result of their upbringing and past experiences. Their history is alluded to in only a few scenes, but you can feel it as a long-standing source of tension between the two.

The slow unveiling of Pansy’s past and the many reasons for her bitterness are part of what makes Hard Truths such a brilliant watch. Many filmmakers have made character studies of people that are self-centred or mean, but I’ve rarely seen one that feels so real as what Leigh presents here. Despite how spiteful and cruel her anger can often seem, you can begin to understand why by the time the credits roll around. 

It’s no easy feat to realistically display this kind of person on-screen, and it’s a testament to the collaboration of Mike Leigh and Marianne Jean-Baptiste that Hard Truths is such a compelling watch. A drama that’s willing to be both comedic and soberingly real, this is a fantastic insight into family life that’s extremely easy to connect to. 

★★★★

Hard Truths is in Australian cinemas on March 6th.