Mike Leigh On Mike Leigh

Get ready for the world premiere of Hard Truths at this year’s festival!

This insightful collection of original interviews delves into the mind of Mike Leigh, the innovative director behind "Secrets Lies."

A five-time Oscar nominee and BAFTA winner, Mike Leigh is the only British director to have claimed the top prizes at both Cannes (for "Secrets Lies") and Venice (for "Vera Drake"). Leigh’s distinctive approach, which began in theater, involves a unique method of creating plays and films through extensive improvisation and rehearsal with actors before shooting. His actors craft characters inspired by real people, often unaware of each other’s narratives or the broader story Leigh envisions.

Leigh's films, known for blending bleakness with humor, vividly portray the tragicomic world of everyday people whose lives are far from glamorous. His work often explores the tension between societal norms and personal desires, as seen in films like the stark "Meantime" and "Naked," or the iconic "Abigail’s Party" and "Nuts in May." A master storyteller, Leigh tackles universal themes—births, marriages, deaths, parenthood, broken relationships, and the secrets and lies that define families.

In this collection, Leigh opens up to Amy Raphael with remarkable candor about his life and his unparalleled creative process, revealing himself as passionate, insightful, and possessing a dry, playful Mancunian wit.