Freeheld - Trailer

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Laurel Hester is a high-ranking New Jersey police detective who is hugely respected at work. While she never fails to earn recognition for her police services, she also manages to catch the eye of a young woman almost 20 years her senior. Stacie Andree's career is less high-flying but the pair find themselves connecting over their shared idyllic fantasies of a home and true love. However, their dreams are about to be shattered when Hester is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, but she wishes to soften the blow by passing on her pension benefits to her Andree, so that she can afford to continue living in their new home. However, under Ocean County laws this is not possible for domestic partners - only married couples, and this is pre-marriage equality reforms. The couple implore the New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders to help sort this issue out, but as Hester grows ever weaker, it seems they're running out of time. With the help of Hester's supportive colleague Dane Wells and a gay Jewish activist named Steven Goldstein (the founder of Garden State Equality), they set out to defend the rights of same-sex couples across the state.

'Freeheld' is the heart-breaking true story of a devoted couple whose tragic parting was made all the worse by outdated state laws. Based on the short documentary of the same name by Cynthia Wade, the movie has been directed by Peter Sollett ('Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist', 'Raising Victor Vargas') and written by the Oscar nominated Ron Nyswaner ('The Painted Veil', 'Philadelphia'). It is set for limited theater release in the US on October 2nd 2015.