Whilst dealing with the heavy topic of grief, the film manages to ensure laughter and sympathy with its two protagonists. From Chantelle’s salon stories to Pansy’s supermarket arguments, the two sisters could not be more different. The story centres around Mother’s Day, and the death of their mother. Chantelle remembers their mother in a much more positive light than Pansy, who had played a large part in raising her sister. Their differences highlight the huge spectrum of grief, and their families represent how further generations can be hurt or healed by healthy processing.
Pansy evidently suffers from some form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which makes her household tense and uncomfortable. Marianne-Jean Baptiste gives the performance of a lifetime as a woman with a multitude of personalities, ranging from angry customer to disappointed mother to grieving daughter. The acting ensemble holds up incredibly around her, gripping the audience by the throat as they immerse us in a tumultuous family drama. The cinematography is strong but unmentionable - true to British realism.
Whilst the film was hilarious and enticing, it did not pack the punch I was hoping to feel. I imagined a stronger and more outlined emotional realisation that made me feel deeper for Pansy, but it neglected to hit the last bar that would have made it a four-star film. Enjoyable and exemplary of British society, if you enjoyed the contrast of tragedy and humour in A Real Pain, Hard Truths is worth a watch!