Film No. 73. HARD TRUTHS (Palace Aust. British Film Festival) (2024). 28th Oct.

 

Film No. 73  (2024)  October 28th.  6:30 PM  PALACE Raine Sq, Cinema 6, Perth City.

"I've been harassed by people all day. I'm sick to death of it!" (Pansy explodes at husband Curtley as he maintains his trance like silence).

NOMINEE: Best Film (Mike Leigh) San Sebastian Int. Film Festival. (2024).

Is Pansy (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) of HARD TRUTHS (HT) simply too hard on those around her (including us) to be taken seriously? Yes, but as the complexity of her mental state is revealed, we need to take her very seriously.

Mike Leigh (HAPPY GO LUCKY) is back. He has as much to say here, as he did in SECRETS AND LIES. But while the 1996 classic attracted 5 Oscar nominations, HT will not. Perhaps over 28 years, the questions Leigh asks about connection and chemistry within families, and his pessimistic approach, has meant that his cinematic genius has diluted. Or maybe there are so many other techniques for presenting hard hitting social drama. Pansy is a gusher of negative "bile". Early on, there is humour in her rants. Gradually Leigh reveals her core. We are sad for Pansy, and all around her. She demands our attention.

Mike Leigh, like Ken Loach (I, DANIEL BLAKE) has been wondrously transfixing for over 50 Years. Classically, Leigh's creations bear fruit in his final scenes. No dialogue, three static camera shots of Pansy, husband Curtley and brow-beaten son Moses. His question: Surely there is hope, even some happiness, for this family? Maybe. 9GUMS.