CS Video: Freeheld Stars Julianne Moore, Ellen Page & Michael Shannon

Interview with Freeheld stars Julianne Moore, Ellen Page and Michael Shannon

Marriage equality has been a huge hot topic in the last few years, whether it’s being discussed by politicians or the Pope, and while there’s been a number of huge coups in the last year, that wasn’t always the case. There was a time when gay couples in domestic partnerships couldn’t get the same benefits of married couples, nor were they allowed to get married in order to get those benefits. The problems this caused were made evident when New Jersey detective Laurel Hester was diagnosed with cancer and wasn’t able to leave her pension for her domestic partner Stacie.

Inspired by Cynthia Wade’s Oscar-winning 2007 doc short of the same name, Freeheld tells this story with Julianne Moore as Hester, one of the top crimefighters in Ocean City, New Jersey, while keeping a secret from her partner Dane (Michael Shannon). When she meets mechanic Stacie Andree (Ellen Page), the two have an immediate bond and eventually move in together, but when Laurel is diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer, she learns that Stacie won’t be able to get her pension from the police force because they’re not married. With the help of Dane and gay rights activist Steven Goldstein (Steve Carell), they must fight against the Freeholders board of directors to get them to overturn laws so that Stacie can survive after Laurel dies.

Freeheld premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival where ComingSoon.net had a chance to sit down with three of the principal actors–Julianne Moore, Ellen Page and Michael Shannon–interviews you can watch in the player below.

Freeheld opens in select cities on Friday, October 2 and expands nationwide on October 9.