Julianne Moore, fresh off an Oscar-winning turn in Still Alice, stars in this fall’s gay rights drama, Freeheld.
Moore plays real-life New Jersey police detective Laurel Hester, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in 2005. When Hester tries to ensure her pension benefits get transferred over to her partner Stacie Andree (Ellen Page), a state board of representatives blocks the move because Andree is a woman. The film focuses on Hester’s subsequent legal battles against the state.
Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire) and Steve Carrell (Foxcatcher) co-star, the latter as gay attorney and Garden State Equality founder Steven Goldstein.
Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) directs off a script from Ron Nyswaner (Philadelphia).
Freeheld hits theaters in limited release on October 2, before expanding into wide release on October 16.