Hard Truths

Hard Truths
Starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, David Webber, Tuwaine Barrett
Directed by Mike Leigh

You've heard it said, "it doesn't cost anything to be nice," and "don't judge someone you see, put yourself in their shoes first." Yet anyone who's worked with the public knows that's not an easy feat. "Karen" is in our vernacular because of that, signifying someone (usually female) who's extremely difficult and rude to employees in particular, and people in general. It's hard to associate with them or feel compassion for them, even though they could be going through the worst in life, because how they lash out because of it. "Hard Truths" is one of those stories, centering on a "Karen"-like character, and asks us to feel compassion and mercy for her because we see what she goes through on a daily basis. It's a harrowing task indeed.

Pansy Deacon (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) lives with her husband Curtley (David Webber) and her twenty-something son Moses (Tuwaine Barrett), but their home is anything but loving. Pansy constantly belittles Curtley's work and life, and blasts Moses for lacking aspiration. She has an incredibly short temper and lashes out at cashiers, doctors, dentists, and anyone she comes across, and suffers from extreme anxiety that's so severe she fears going out, animals, and even plants.

Her younger sister Chantelle (Michele Austin) is the total opposite - she has two vibrant, active daughters, works as a hairdresser, and enjoys life. She wants Pansy to come with her to their mother's grave on Mother's Day, but Pansy pushes her away time and again, before finally agreeing to go, albeit begrudgingly. They then share a dinner with their families where Pansy opens up about why she's like she is, or at least giving a bit of an idea, because not even she knows why.

"Hard Truths" is one of those rare films that really burrows itself into your soul, and does so very subtly. You don't know how deep it has its hooks on you until you leave and it's continually on your mind. It's not like a lot happens in the film, or even includes a definitive beginning, middle, and end, but its topic, and its performances, linger on in your brain and heart. When you think of films you don't want to watch a second time due to its theme, movies like "Requiem for a Dream" come to mind - but so too does "Hard Truths," because it forces us to look at our own hard truths in life that don't always have a simple answer.

Pansy is a troubled woman who doesn't hide her pain, but tells everyone around her how much pain she's in on a daily basis. Her mouth hurts, her head hurts, she sleeps a lot, and she berates her family for lacking aspirations and ambitions. She chastises a grocery store employee and gets into verbal arguments with other women in line. She gets yelled at by a passing motorist who wants her parking spot, and later says she was almost murdered because of it. She reprimands a young doctor and dentist for just doing their jobs. She is not a nice person, and she's the type of person you'd literally cross a busy street to avoid.

Yet for those around her, they don't see the whole picture, and honestly neither does Pansy. Does she suffer from some sort of bipolar disorder, or un-diagnosed anxiety? She doesn't know, but all she does know is she's tired of everything, and is stuck in the world she lives in. She feels totally isolated and alone, trapped in a world of her own making, and can't find a way out. Every day is a struggle for her, and therefore a struggle for everyone she comes into contact with.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste earned herself a BAFTA nomination for her performance, and I'm absolutely shocked she didn't earn an Oscar for her performance as well. It couldn't be easy for the seasoned actress to play such a demanding role, and make it more than a one-dimensional character. Yes, it's incredibly hard to feel any empathy for her, but she still manages to make you feel pangs of sadness for her through different moments in the movie. It's a transformative role and she more than rises to the occasion.

It's hard to categorize this film, because it's not one that follows the typical structure. We don't get the whole backstory of Pansy and Chantelle's upbringing. We're not privy to Pansy's recent events that forged this tough exterior. We don't get a satisfying conclusion where she comes to realize the error of her ways and sets out to be a better person. We're given a snippet in time, and have to draw our own conclusions about her past and future, and I love that. I loved the whole movie, and by the end I was still thinking about it, and one that'll keep lingering in my mind for a long time to come.

The Score: A+