Freeheld

Freeheld is a 2015 American drama film directed by Peter Sollett and written by Ron Nyswaner. The film stars Julianne Moore, Elliot Page, Michael Shannon, Steve Carell, and Luke Grimes. It is based on the 2007 documentary short film of the same name about police officer Laurel Hester's fight against the Ocean County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders to allow her pension benefits to be transferred to her domestic partner after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Plot The film is based on the true story of Laurel Hester (Moore), a police officer in Ocean County, New Jersey. The story narrates the difficulties faced by a lesbian police detective and her domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Page). Following her diagnosis with terminal lung cancer in 2005, Hester repeatedly appealed to the county's board of chosen freeholders to have her pension benefits passed on to her domestic partner; she was eventually successful. Cast Julianne Moore as Laurel Hester, a New Jersey police detective who is diagnosed with terminal cancer Elliot Page as Stacie Andree, a car mechanic and Hester's domestic partner Michael Shannon as Dane Wells, Hester's supportive police partner Steve Carell as Steven Goldstein, founder and then-Chair of Garden State Equality Luke Grimes as Todd Belkin, Hester's closeted gay colleague Josh Charles as Bryan Kelder, a member of the Ocean County board of chosen freeholders and a lawyer Mary Birdsong as Carol Andree, Stacie's mother Kelly Deadmon as Lynda Hester D'Orio, Laurel's sister Gabriel Luna as Quesada Anthony DeSando as Toohey Skipp Sudduth as Chief Reynolds William Sadler as Peter Santucci Dennis Boutsikaris as Pat Gerrity Adam LeFevre as Don Bennett Traci Hovel as Hannah Production