Mike Leigh defends film 'Hard Truths' against racist criticisms of diverse cast

Mike Leigh has responded to criticisms of his film "Hard Truths," which features a mostly Black cast. He called the comments "offensive and racist," defending his right as a white filmmaker to tell diverse stories. Leigh emphasized that the film's screenplay was developed collaboratively with the actors, highlighting the authenticity of the dialogue. He rejected the notion that he should not take credit for the writing. Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who stars in the film, has received critical acclaim for her performance. She won Best Lead Performance at the British Independent Film Awards and Best Actress at the New York Film Critics Circle.