The title of Mike Leigh’s newest film, “Hard Truths,” implies a striking continuity throughout his career, reaching as far back as his 1971 theatrical debut, “Bleak Moments,” on both stage and screen.
Over the past fifty years or so, Leigh has been inviting viewers into the everyday lives and houses of diverse British people from different walks of life, by originating unique projects using an innovative method that allows the actors to contribute to the creation of their own characters on stage.
The film titled “Hard Truths” continues the style of a humanistic director, bringing him back together with Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Michele Austin. These two actresses previously portrayed sisters in Leigh’s 1993 play “It’s a Great Big Shame”, and were close friends in his Palme d’Or winning feature “Secrets & Lies” (1996). Their performances in this movie have been garnering praise, with Jean-Baptiste receiving high acclaim from the New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago film critics.
At the Palm Springs Film Festival, Leigh made it clear to EbMaster that he prefers working with character actors over stars. By this, he means individuals who aren’t fixated on their own image, but rather those capable of portraying genuine people. He emphasized his preference for performers who are versatile, able to play a variety of characters and resemble the real people you might see on the street.
On “Hard Truths,” he was eager to collaborate once more with Jean-Baptiste and Austin, who essentially kickstarted their professional journeys under Leigh’s guidance. Initially brought aboard fresh from drama school, the duo reflect on those ’90s ventures as influential milestones in their careers.
Jean-Baptiste shared, ‘Working alongside him and grasping his method fundamentally shaped my approach since then.’ Regardless of the nature of the tasks at hand, I always aimed to apply what I learned from our collaboration in bringing characters to life or making the written characters seem more authentic.’
When inviting Jean-Baptiste to join the project later known as “Hard Truths”, Leigh had a clear intention for her to assume a significant role. As stated by the actor, who was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal of a young optometrist searching for her birth mother in “Secrets & Lies”, part of the agreement when working with Leigh involves an organic process and nothing is guaranteed from the beginning.
Jean-Baptiste mentioned that if other characters’ storylines evolved, her own character might lose some prominence,” she admitted, ready for such an occurrence.
Leigh explained to Jean-Baptiste during our conversation that he finds it hard to believe their plan would involve traveling across the Atlantic for a minor role, as it seems unusual. In other words, Leigh expressed that they often figure out what the project is about through the process of working on it, but they do make tentative or possible decisions.
As a fan, I found myself eagerly participating in a unique journey. From the get-go, Leigh invited Jean-Baptiste and Austin to step into the roles of sisters for what evolved into a 14-week creative endeavor. Throughout this process, we collaborated on building their background stories and characters, eventually bringing Pansy and Chantelle to life.
Leigh stated that the task is about initiating character development, and as the process unfolds, it becomes clearer who we’re dealing with. At this point, Leigh suggests naming the character ‘X’, as their true identity hasn’t been revealed yet. To help in this creation, he encourages his collaborators to describe a few real people, serving as inspiration for the new character.
Jean-Baptiste remembered that Pansy originated from approximately five individuals, none of whom would ever identify themselves as her. This serves as the basis for the character’s development. By creating a character using these people as inspiration, we then trace their roots back to their very first memories and construct an entirely new individual.
As stated by Leigh, “It’s clear that I’ve carefully chosen between these two sisters, and there’s no element of chance involved.
After putting in countless hours of preparation through acting drills and rehearsals, it’s finally when I jot down the scenes. Known for my unconventional approach, I often employ improvisation during the initial exploration phase – not the over-the-top, ad-libbing seen in typical Hollywood comedies. Instead, I ensure that my actors strictly adhere to the script once it’s written.
Austin clarified, “What truly matters is motivation. This is often where actors might stumble during improvisation. Instead of focusing on being witty or humorous in the moment, they should be drawing from real-life experiences.
As a movie critic, I found myself captivated by Leigh’s knack for weaving subtext into his scenes, allowing the audience to grasp underlying emotions that characters may not express verbally. Reflecting on “Secrets & Lies,” Leigh shared an interesting anecdote about the French producers feeling the film was overly lengthy. They requested two scenes be removed, among them a significant interaction between Jean-Baptiste and Austin’s characters, Hortense and Dionne.
Leigh pointed out, ‘That scene offers insights into Hortense I couldn’t easily put into words.’ Similarly, the narrative in ‘Hard Truths’ unfolds, with each encounter providing further depth to Pansy’s personality.
In the initial scene, excluding a peaceful introduction that showcases their middle-class residence from afar, Pansy abruptly awakens with alarm. Throughout her day, she bullies her husband Curtley (David Webber), son Moses (Tuwainne Barrett), and numerous strangers, escalating every interaction into a near explosive argument.
Although Pansy’s scathing criticisms can sometimes be amusing, it’s hard not to feel sorrow for her hidden anguish. On the contrary, while Pansy has the ability to spoil others’ day with her crankiness, Chantelle is cheerful and quick to smile. She radiates warmth, bringing joy to everyone she encounters.
To viewers, the movie presents an intriguing query: Given their shared genetics and identical upbringings, how is it possible that these two sisters developed such contrasting personalities? What could have caused Pansy’s unhappiness?
Austin stated, “The strife between them stems from the fact they’ve shared identical experiences.” He elaborated, often within families, one individual may feel somewhat excluded or outcast, while others might be seen as favored.
As the story nears its conclusion, a pivotal conversation between the sisters takes place in the very cemetery where “Secrets & Lies” first unfolded. They delve into the ways their childhood experiences shaped them uniquely.
Leigh remarked, “I realized it was crucial and impactful.” This instance is noteworthy, although its meaning may vary for different viewers. “We took an entire day constructing that sequence, emphasizing what comes to light. Our understanding of this moment is possible because we’ve developed these characters thoroughly. By then, the full story lies beneath the surface; we’re merely focusing on the visible part.
In essence, “Hard Truths” broadens Leigh’s lifelong exploration of various aspects of British society, particularly zeroing in on a family originating from Jamaica in this instance.
Leigh mentioned that he has occasionally included Black characters throughout his work, but now feels it’s the right moment to collaborate with Jean-Baptiste and Austin. He emphasized that he firmly intends to avoid portraying stereotypes or clichés in their partnership.
As a cinephile myself, I find Leigh’s approach incredibly rewarding because it allows me to immerse myself in a movie that steers clear of tired tropes and instead delves deep into the struggles and complexities of everyday life for characters like Pansy and her family. It’s this authentic portrayal of human experience that makes his films truly resonate.
In this film, Black characters are present without a specific reason being provided. It’s not about Moses facing arrest, police brutality, injustice, or similar situations. Instead, these characters are simply portrayed as living beings, grappling with themes such as connection, fear, and pain.
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2025-01-11 23:47