Mike Leigh's Hard Truthsis one of the most powerful, evocative films of 2024, and its ending offers a wealth of thematic material to break down. From the filmmaker of acclaimed movies like Naked and Secrets & Lies, Hard Truths is the latest critical darling of veteran filmmaker Mike Leigh, who specializes in exploring the human condition through nuanced, naturalistic characters. Marianne Jean-Baptiste leads Hard Truths' cast as Pansy, a woman experiencing depression and bouts of anger, causing her to lash out at family members and strangers alike.
The turning point of Hard Truths is when Pansy and her sister, Chantelle, go to a cemetery to visit the tombstone of their late mother. There, they argue about life and their respective childhoods, with Pansy finally admitting to just how much she's been struggling to cope with the day-to-day aspects of life, feeling that everyone hates her. This leads to an awkward family dinner, where Pansy breaks down in tears. Afterward, Pansy's husband Curtley gets injured at work and returns home, expecting his wife to come down to support him. The film cuts to black, leaving what happens unclear.
Does Pansy Leave Curtley In Hard Truths' Ending?
Pansy & Curtley's Marriage Seems Beyond Repair
Earlier in the film, Chantelle suggests that Pansy should leave Curtley, knowing that Pansy is tired of taking care of the men in her life, only to not be taken care of emotionally in response. After Pansy and Curtley get home from the party, Pansy takes Curtley's possessions and begins piling them up outside their room, suggesting but not outright saying that she's kicking him out. Curtley then spends the night sleeping on the couch before heading to work, where he injures himself.
Hard Truths is the latest film by acclaimed director Mike Leigh, and it's earning some buzz this awards season. Here's where and when you can see it.
Then comes one of the most perplexing moments of Mike Leigh's film. Curtley sends his assistant Virgil up the stairs to get Pansy to come down while sitting at the table waiting for her. Though Virgil suggests that Pansy is coming, the film cuts to black as she's still sitting up in her room contemplating her options. What's significant here is that Pansy, who's grown exceedingly tired of taking care of Curtley, either cleaning up after him or cooking for him, has complete power over him.
Curtley hasn't been there despite her suffering and chooses to keep quiet and avoid being yelled at rather than try to understand his wife's pain.
It's unclear whether Pansy leaves Curtley or whether she kicks him out. Without being able to work, neither he nor Moses has any value left to her. She has no reason to help him, as he's done nothing but contribute to her pain for years. Curtley hasn't been there despite her suffering and chooses to keep quiet and avoid being yelled at rather than try to understand his wife's pain.
Pansy's Mother & Family History Explained
Pansy Was Never Allowed To Have A Proper Childhood
Though Hard Truths suggests that the death of Pansy's mother was a turning point for her, pushing her deeper into her anger and resentment, Pansy was always a difficult person. She suggests that she married Curtley out of desperation, worrying that she'd be alone otherwise, and Chantelle mentions that Pansy has always struggled to find joy in life. This is primarily because Pansy was robbed of a childhood, being forced to take care of her younger sister when her mother wasn't able to, and their father left. No one has ever been there to take care of Pansy.
Why Curtley Throws Out Pansy's Flowers
Curtley's Final Act Of Pettiness
Moses offers a surprise gesture of kindness to Pansy by buying her flowers, proving at the very least that he doesn't hate her. No matter what, Pansy is his mother, and he wants to please her, but she's nearly impossible to earn praise from. The flowers cause Pansy to have an outburst of tears, but she does express some measure of gratitude in her eyes. After watching her prep the flowers in a vase, Curtley throws them out into the backyard. This likely symbolizes how deeply their marriage has crumbled to an irreparable point, with Curtley making this cruel decision.
How Chantelle's Upbringing Helped Her Live A Healthier Life
Pansy Took Care Of Chantelle
Despite being Pansy's sister, Chantelle has a much more positive approach to life. This is because, being the second born, there was far less pressure on Chantelle as a child to contribute to their household. This lack of pressure meant Pansy generally felt like their mother loved Chantelle more, increasing her bitterness. Chantelle has two great young daughters, but the film makes a point to suggest that they struggle to reveal their vulnerability amongst each other, lying about their failures.
Will Pansy Repair Her Relationship With Moses?
Moses Has Potential, The Question Is Whether Pansy Will Be Able To See It
Moses is a troubled young man, experiencing depression of his own, social anxiety, and a lack of motivation to pursue any career or goals. However, there are two slight details to suggest that he isn't beyond hope. One, multiple scenes in the film demonstrate that he has an interest in airplanes, with a book that he's reading and a video game that he's playing. This is vital in suggesting that Moses has interests; he just doesn't know how to express them fully due to the difficult home life he's had.
Whether he and Pansy can repair their relationship will likely depend on her ability to grow.
At the end of the film, Moses is sitting outside when a young woman comes up to him and offers him some of her candy. He's reluctant at first, but she's gentle enough to allow Moses to open up and be willing to talk to her. It's unclear what sort of relationship will stem from this, but having a friend in his life who has a more positive, outgoing outlook could be incredible for him, helping to cultivate his potential and personal interests. Whether he and Pansy can repair their relationship will likely depend on her ability to grow.
The Real Meaning Of Hard Truths' Ending Explained
Hard Truths Is A Film About Empathy And Understanding
Despite its sorrows, Hard Truths is a profoundly empathetic film that ultimately encourages its audience to examine its subject more closely before making judgments. At first glance, Pansy is an abrasive and difficult-to-like person, pushing away everyone on her path with little remorse. Unlike the grocery store clerk or Pansy's dentist, the audience is granted the opportunity to look deeper into her life and, in doing so, understand why she acts the way she does.
Hard Truths isn't trying to suggest that the way Pansy acts is acceptable, but that by understanding a person's pain, one can learn to empathize with someone they might otherwise find repulsive. However, this is a two-way street, as a person suffering needs to talk about their problems and communicate rather than bottle them up and deal with their feelings in anger. Pansy makes up excuses for herself rather than examining her life and accepting the things that make her so angry at her core. Those are what Hard Truths' title is referring to.
Hard Truths, released in 2025, is set in post-COVID London and follows Pansy, a working-class Black woman dealing with the aftermath of global panic, navigating a fractured psyche amid ongoing personal and societal challenges.
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
English (US) ·