It's no secret that Toronto loves Mike Leigh and it would be a lie to say so. Hard truthsthe latest film from the legendary British director, did not receive a warm reception at its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on Friday night.
Hard truths bowed at TIFF's Royal Alexandra Theatre with Leigh and star Marianne Jean-Baptiste in attendance. The last time the actress and director worked together was on Secrets and Liespremiered at Cannes in 1996, won the Palme d'Or and launched Jean-Baptiste's international career.
In the new film, Jean-Baptiste plays Pansy, a woman filled with rage at fate and the world who lashes out, bitterly, brutally and often hilariously, at her family and anyone unfortunate enough to cross her path. It's a compelling performance from the British actress, who has been a regular on the small screen, having spent seven seasons on the CBS procedural Without a Trace and appearing on the network's short-lived broadcast Training day and on Coming home on Amazon Prime.
The Toronto audience welcomed her back, jumping to their feet in a thunderous standing ovation when Jean-Baptiste took the stage after the credits. She joined director Leigh, Hard truths producer Georgina Lowe and co-stars Michele Austin, who plays Pansy's sister Chantelle, and David Webber as Pansy's husband Curtley.
Jean-Baptiste said that while working on the role, she often took Pansy home with her and began to “observe the world as Pansy would,” but was able to keep a distance between herself and the character's seething anger. “I have a sense of humor, but Pansy doesn't, so the things she was saying were completely serious. But I could tell they were extremely funny.”
Leigh said that in creating “completely real and three-dimensional” characters, he strove to “make a film that resists the stereotypes that a lot of films use, particularly when looking at people of color.”
Bleecker Street Pre-Purchased Hard truths and will release the film theatrically in the United States later this year. Studiocanal will distribute the film in the UK, while Cornerstone Films will handle international sales.
Below you can see the trailer of the film.