Women Talking
Written by Sarah Polley (screenplay) and Miriam Toews (screenplay and based upon the book)
Directed by Sarah Polley
Starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand and Ben Whishaw
Runtime: 1 hour, 44 minutes
Rated PG13 for Some strong language, bloody images, sexual assault, mature thematic conent
In select theaters December 23, 2022, followed by wide release on January 20, 2023

by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport & Editor in Chief

“When we liberate ourselves we will have to ask ourselves who we are.”

Women Talking is a quiet, dialogue heavy film that manages to captivate due to the stellar performances from an exquisite ensemble cast. This should not come as a surprise, given the core players consisting of: Ona (Rooney Mara), Salome (Claire Foy), Mariche (Jessie Buckley), Agata (Judith Ivey) and Scarface Janz (Frances McDormand). This latest motion picture from Sarah Polley showcases a filmmaker that has clearly mastered their craft and knows the importance of letting the camera speak.

“What follows is an act of female imagination.”

This text above is documented across the screen before the audience is first introduced to the women and their story. It serves as a warning that the material itself is based loosely on actual (horrific) events. The picture proceeds to open on the women of an isolated religious community conducting a vote on whether to: Do nothing. Stay and fight. or Leave. These options are presented to the voters through illustrated depictions and one of the choices will inevitably be their future. During the course of the hour and forty-four minute runtime Polley takes the audience on a riveting journey to their ultimate decision after a tie is found between: stay and fight or leave.

This may not seem like an engrossing method to convey a narrative, however I often found myself consumed with their conversation. The story is told in such as way that it slowly reveals and doles out information. At the onset, it is learned that the women are unable to speak or write due to their community’s decrees. By not providing the women with basic education essentials, they do not have a say in their colony or their own lives. Every aspect of their current situation was and is created by the men in their lives. Particularly, being led to believe that the sexual assault incidents occurring to females within the community were supposedly being caused by Satan. Instead, the entire affair was a gentleman’s agreement among the male members that involved the drugging of their victims in order to perpetuate their false claims. It was this act being discovered that led them to their present situation.

While the women weigh their options, they invited one man, August (Ben Whishaw), to assist them as a note taker and record keeper of the events. It is revealed that August at one point in time had left the congregation to pursue a higher education and later returned. He is a complicated character, but I would not go as far to say he is a focus. Instead, he serves as a reminder that not everyone has ill intentions. Through the course of the film, it is found that the reason for his return to the flock was to serve as a teacher to the younger boys. He also later divulges his feelings for Ona. Ultimately the women devise a plan that will allow them to not only move forward but be afforded the opportunity to do something they have never done prior in their lives and that is to THINK.

This picture is extremely moving and I found it continues to stay with me even after leaving the cinema. Much of the cinematography is close-ups of the characters speaking, but with the vast landscape of the rural setting, it creates for some beautiful shots. I think it should be noted that one definitely has to be in the mood for a film such as this; it is not something to watch when you’re not willing to give it the focus that it requires. This is why I think the best venue to watch a film such as this is the theater versus at home where one finds too many distractions. Something that really got my gears turning was not only did the men abuse these individuals physically, but also mentally. Not permitting someone to think is not only unjust, but cruel. In a sense, their male counterparts kept them from living.