Here’s the trailer.
A new Mike Leigh movie is always a cause for celebration. However, there’s some baggage that comes with his latest one, “Hard Truths,” which was rejected by Cannes and Venice. It’s set to world premiere at TIFF on Friday, and will then screen at NYFF.
Leigh, who recently turned 81, started shooting “Hard Truths” in May 2023 and production wrapped in August of that year. Leigh’s latest, his 23rd film, features a mostly black cast and “will explore family relationships in the post-pandemic world”. Here’s a synopsis (via TIFF) for the film:
Hypersensitive to the slightest possible offence and ever ready to fly off the handle, Pansy (Jean-Baptiste) does not ingratiate. She criticizes her husband Curtley (David Webber) and their adult son Moses (Tuwaine Barrett) so relentlessly that neither bother to argue with her. She picks fights with strangers and sales clerks and enumerates the world’s countless flaws to anyone who will listen, most especially her cheerful sister Chantal (Michele Austin), who might be the only person still capable of sympathizing with her. As the film peels back Pansy’s pain and the daily fallout left in its wake, we wonder if a breaking point will come for the family.
The film stars Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, David Webber, and Tuwaine Barrett. “Hard Truths” is written and directed by Leigh. He previously worked with Jean-Baptiste in the acclaimed film “Secrets & Lies,” which was nominated for Best Picture, and Jean-Baptiste nominated for Supporting Actress.
Leigh is the landmark filmmaker behind such great films as “Secrets & Lies,” “Naked,” “Life is Sweet,” “Another Year” and “Topsy Turvy.”
As mentioned, the aim was for Cannes or Venice — but that’s backfired. Leigh’s last film, 2018’s “Peterloo,” was infamously rejected by Cannes, which he was openly unhappy about, and instead premiered at Venice. He’s had some ups and downs in his career, but as far as I’m concerned has never released a “bad” film.
Bleecker Street recently delayed the film’s originally planned October 18 release date, and now “Hard Truths” is set to open on January 10, 2025.
As expected, Snyder's latest is being torn apart by TIFF attendees. No mercy given. The film, which had its world premiere this evening, is being called by some one of the worst movies to ever premiere at the festival.