To Leslie

"A small independent production that caused controversy when it entered the 2023 Oscars race for Best Actress (Andrea Riseborough). But beyond the controversy, it must be said that To Leslie deserves such recognition. The film, partially inspired by the mother of screenwriter Ryan Binaco, tells the story of an alcoholic woman who wins the lottery and, six years later, ends up on the street after spending all her money on alcohol and parties, leaving her son in a self-destructive spiral. Riseborough's performance is impeccable, and although the script may lend itself to miserablism, it also offers redemption possibilities for the character, whose journey is balanced by interventions from the always reliable Alison Janney (I, Tonya) and a compassionate performance from Marc Maron (Joker). Despite being conventional and somewhat predictable, this is one of those films that live and die by its performances. But what performances!"