Hard Truths

You probably know someone just like Pansy Deacon. She’s miserable. Everything makes her angry. When she’s worked up, which is pretty much 100% of the time, she rails against whatever has displeased her. Everyone else is an idiot; only she sees the truth in the world. There is nobody she won’t tell off for even the most minor reason. Why would you want to spend 97 minutes watching a movie about Pansy? Because director Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths puts context around the character, giving insight into why people like her are perpetually unhappy.

Played to perfection by Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Pansy is a trainwreck. Her marriage to husband Curtley (David Webber) is severely strained because everything he does annoys her. Unmotivated son Moses (Tuwaine Barrett) irks her even more. She can’t go to the grocery store or a dentist appointment without becoming enraged. Pansy has a sister, Chantelle (Michele Austin), who is the complete opposite personality-wise. She adores her two adult daughters and generally tries to enjoy life, imperfect though it may occasionally be.

Hard Truths contrasts the perspectives of Pansy and Chantelle in its early scenes. Then it gradually gets to the heart of their relationship. As the anniversary of their mother’s death draws closer, it becomes clear that the women have had very different grief reactions. Among the film’s biggest themes is whether you let life’s adversities drag you down or use them to spur greater appreciation for its pleasures. The story’s highlight is a scene between the sisters at the gravesite. It’s a masterpiece of subtle acting, and it changes the way you view Pansy for the rest of the film.

Not to shortchange the excellent Michele Austin, whose contributions are invaluable, but Marianne Jean-Baptiste is absolutely remarkable here. She somehow finds a way to make us care about Pansy, no matter how much we dislike her behavior. The actress, who was Oscar nominated for Leigh’s 1997 Secrets & Lies, cues us in that there’s pain driving the anger. Lashing out is, at some level, a defense mechanism. It’s a brilliantly nuanced performance.

Mike Leigh is known for observational dramas. Hard Truths fits squarely into that category. The “plot” is how characters relate to each other and how they express themselves in different scenarios. How Pansy’s negativity infects others and how Chantelle attempts to counter it with relative positivity constitutes the “action.” Everything builds to a haunting final scene – which I will not spoil – that allows viewers to determine what happens next, based on their individual perception of the events that transpired. Wherever you land, the emotional repercussions will stick with you.

Hard Truths is a smart, observant film about human behavior and attitudes. You’ll find yourself thinking about it days, and maybe even weeks or months, afterward.


out of four

Hard Truths is rated R for language. The running time is 1 hour and 37 minutes.


© 2025 Mike McGranaghan