Why Hard Truths Is Nominated At The BAFTAs
The 2025 film BAFTAS, Britain’s most prestigious entertainment award ceremony, is just around the corner, and as always there’s a selection of really great movies that have been nominated. While some big releases, like The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown and Anora have been nominated, the awards also shine a light on some lesser-known, British films.
One of these this year is Hard Truths, a new drama, with comedy elements, from veteran filmmaker Mike Leigh, and tells the story of a depressed, cynical woman (the award-winning actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste) and her more upbeat and jovial sister (Michele Austin).
What is Hard Truths about?
Mike Leigh has been releasing down-to-earth, true-to-life British films for decades now, and Hard Truths is no exception. This latest work from the 81-year-old director follows the middle-aged Pansy (Jean-Baptiste), who struggles with depressive thoughts and a bleak outlook on life and often feels furious at everything and everyone. “People. Can’t stand them” she says early in the film’s trailer. Her husband Curtley (played by David Webber) and son Moses (played by Tuwaine Barrett) also struggle to feel positive in life, in part due to the difficulties of living with Pansy. However, her sister Chantelle has a very different personality, is successful at her job, has two high-achieving daughters, and is generally much more upbeat. This is of course a classic odd pairing: with Pansy’s angry outbursts having driven many away, Chantelle is the only one who consistently sticks by her sister, and sympathises with cynicism and feelings of despair.
Why has the film received acclaim, and a BAFTA nod?
Since premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last year, the film has received plenty of praise from critics, with Marianne Jean-Baptiste in particular receiving acclaim for her leading performance, its screenplay has also received attention. It’s certainly a character study, both of Pansy and Chantelle, but Hard Truths is also a commentary on the stresses of modern life in contemporary Britain. With expectations of herself and her family, and yet always seemingly only missing these expectations, Pansy is driven further into a circle of despair as the film explores depression and other mental health issues.
Despite the clear dramatics at play, the film does have lighter elements and is really a dramedy in part for the sheer volume of insults Pansy fires at people and the humour it mines out of Pansy and Chantelle’s sisterly bond. It’s another great entry into the “kitchen sink drama” genre that Leigh has been so closely associated with and the film has been nominated for both Best British Film and Best Leading Actress at the BAFTAs.
When can I watch?
Hard Truths releases in UK cinemas on 31st January for a limited release.
