TIFF Gala Presentation: Based on the Oscar-winning documentary and adapted by the writer of Philadelphia, Freeheld is the true love story of Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree and their fight for equality.
Ellen Page and Academy-Award winner Julianne Moore star as two women who, in their darkest hour, take on the biggest fight of their lives.
Freeheld, tells the story of New Jersey police officer Laurel Hester (Moore), who was in the closet before she met Stacie Andree (Page), a young mechanic with a load of moxie and a spark of butch sexiness. Laurel’s love for this feisty, unabashed woman prompts her to come out — which alienates several of her colleagues, whether due to knee-jerk homophobia or, as with Laurel’s partner Dane Wells (Michael Shannon), a sense of betrayal at not having been told earlier.
Shortly after the couple moves in together, Laurel is diagnosed with stage IV cancer. Facing up to the reality of her imminent demise, she requests that her pension benefits be transferred to Stacie. But the request is denied, and from here on in, this intimate story of love and identity transforms into something much bigger than any two people.
With the help of a gay rights activist (Steve Carell), Laurel and Stacie take on the county’s governing body of elected officials, determined to make them revise their policy before time runs out.
TIFF 2015
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