TIFF15 Review // Freeheld

Freeheld is a feature length biographical drama from director Peter Sollett (Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist).  The film is based on a true story about female lieutenant Laurel Hester (Julianne Moore), and her battle to secure her pensions benefit for her domestic partner Stacie Andree (Ellen Page) following a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2006. The fight for justice and equality is an arduous one as Hester’s only supporter is partner Dane Wells (Michael Shannon). She is forced to enlist the help of sassy Jewish Gay Right advocate Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell), to convince Ocean Beach, New Jersey’s Board of Chosen Freeholders to overturn their vote and allow her partner to take over her pension so that Stacie can keep the home they share .  With an incredible cast, the film is a bleak reminder of how tough the road to marriage equality was not so long ago.

Capsule Review, Brigitte Truong.