Lionsgate has released the first clip for Freeheld, director Peter Sollett's (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) feature adaptation of Cynthia Wade's 2007 Oscar-winning short of the same name. The film tells the story of New Jersey police lieutenant Laurel Hester in her fight on two fronts: one against cancer, and one to make sure her pension benefits would be given to her same-sex domestic partner, Stacie Andree, after she passed away.
Freeheld stars Julianne Moore as Hester alongside Ellen Page as Andree. Michael Shannon, Steve Carell, Josh Charles and Luke Grimes also star. The topic at hands remains a relevant, controversial issue, and one that's close to my heart. Given how moving and absolutely devastating the first trailer was, it's a bit of a relief to see a lighter moment depicted in the first clip.In any case, I'm girding my loins for a total sobfest when the film debuts next month. Freeheld arrives in limited theaters on October 2nd before expanding to wide release on October 16th. Check out the first clip below.
Here’s the official synopsis for Freeheld:
Based on the Oscar®-winning short documentary and adapted by the writer of Philadelphia, Freeheld is the true love story of Laurel Hester [Julianne Moore] and Stacie Andree [Ellen Page] and their fight for justice. A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this. Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells [Michael Shannon], and activist Steven Goldstein [Steve Carell], unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defense, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
