To Leslie

In rural West Texas a single mother named Leslie comes into a lottery windfall and spends it as fast as it arrives, leaving a trail of broken promises and sorrow in her wake. Years pass, and the buzz of fortune fades while her charm wanes and she finds herself with little support and nowhere to turn. She fights to reclaim a sense of normalcy, facing old regrets, fragile relationships, and the hard truths that come with trying to start over. The story tracks a woman's stubborn hope as she seeks redemption amid hardship, unsure of what her future holds. Along the way she reconnects with a few old acquaintances, testing loyalties and the limits of forgiveness.

Directed by Michael Morris from an original screenplay by Ryan Binaco, To Leslie offers a stark character study of a woman facing the consequences of a reckless windfall and seeking a second chance in a small town with hard edges.

The film drew attention during awards season when Andrea Riseborough earned a Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards for To Leslie, a nomination that sparked debate about campaigning and indie visibility while highlighting the movie's raw performance and emotional intensity that lingers in viewers after the credits nationwide.

Riseborough's Oscar bid put a spotlight on low budget dramas and sparked wider discussion about how streaming and indie films can reach prestige stages. The nomination became a talking point for performance over budget and the power of a determined campaign, elevating a small town story in cinema conversations nationwide.

Critics generally praised Riseborough's performance and the film's unflinching look at struggle and redemption, even as some reviewers noted a spare, bleak mood. The film centers on resilience, the costs of past choices, and the stubborn hope that keeps a person moving forward, sometimes with help from unexpected allies today.