"We are entitled to three things. We want our children to be safe. We want to be steadfast in our faith. And we want to think."
I thought that Frances McDormand and Sarah Polley handled the subject matter interlaced with subtle humour incredibly well. Sarah Polley's direction is flawless, particularly how she manages to capture the reaction shots of the characters. The cutaways are an interesting stylistic device incorporated in the movie, which should give the audience a glimpse of what happened to the characters and showcase the severity of the situation. The story was adapted from Miriam Toews 2018 novel, which is based on the real-life events that took place in 2011. In 2011, seven men from an ultra-conservative Mennonite colony in Bolivia were convicted of drugging and serially raping over 100 women from their community. The Mennonite colony was mostly populated by the descendants of the Eastern Europeans who settled there in 1874. The film sticks to the title (literally) and mainly takes place in a single setting. It is a self-contained story that speaks volumes and sparks conversations. The audience are drawn to the characters and want them to succeed, and to emancipate themselves from a heavily male dominated society. Throughout the course of the film, the women find themselves engaged in a conversation about whether they should stay, fight, or leave. I particularly enjoyed seeing Jessie Buckley fully in her element. I wouldn't be surprised if she gets nominated for an Oscar.
Its meaningful colours, evocative mise-en-scene, beautiful cinematography, lively soundtrack, accurate costumes pertaining to the subculture, and overall mood makes "Women Talking" probably one of the most memorable cinematic experiences in my book. Hildur Guonadottir's score is phenomenal and evokes suspense and uneasiness. It also sort of has a chill-inducing effect on the spectator, whilst still being enthralled by the story. "Women Talking" may receive Oscar nominations in best production design, best original score, best screenplay, and perhaps best actress for Jessie Buckley or Claire Foy.
The film benefits from having a star-studded cast with the likes of Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Paddington himself Ben Whishaw, Jessie Buckley, and Frances McDormand. Although Frances McDormand only had a minor role in the film, she still was busy producing it behind the cameras.
To conclude, Sarah Polley's "Women Talking" tells a story of oppression, trauma, and sexual assault. It showcases the power struggle between men and women, and how women find it difficult to emancipate themselves from men. Violence against women is still pervasive in today's society, but things are slowly improving. All the women are bound together by their traumatic experiences and try to eloquently put together their thoughts on the matter. Things start to escalate, tears are wept, words are exchanged, anecdotes are shared, and despite all that these women still have a sense of humour which is quite remarkable. All these women united to make a feminist statement and stand up to their oppressors.
Other tidbits:
*For me, the colour grading wasn't an issue, in fact it reflected on the overall mood of the film.
*I adored the song "Daydream Believer" by the Monkees, played during the second act and end credits of the film. The song added a layer of positivity to the movie.
*I was completely oblivious to the fact that Brad Pitt served as executive producer for the film.
*Underappreciated characters: Ruth and Cheryl :)
Final verdict: 9.4/10.
I thought that Frances McDormand and Sarah Polley handled the subject matter interlaced with subtle humour incredibly well. Sarah Polley's direction is flawless, particularly how she manages to capture the reaction shots of the characters. The cutaways are an interesting stylistic device incorporated in the movie, which should give the audience a glimpse of what happened to the characters and showcase the severity of the situation. The story was adapted from Miriam Toews 2018 novel, which is based on the real-life events that took place in 2011. In 2011, seven men from an ultra-conservative Mennonite colony in Bolivia were convicted of drugging and serially raping over 100 women from their community. The Mennonite colony was mostly populated by the descendants of the Eastern Europeans who settled there in 1874. The film sticks to the title (literally) and mainly takes place in a single setting. It is a self-contained story that speaks volumes and sparks conversations. The audience are drawn to the characters and want them to succeed, and to emancipate themselves from a heavily male dominated society. Throughout the course of the film, the women find themselves engaged in a conversation about whether they should stay, fight, or leave. I particularly enjoyed seeing Jessie Buckley fully in her element. I wouldn't be surprised if she gets nominated for an Oscar.
Its meaningful colours, evocative mise-en-scene, beautiful cinematography, lively soundtrack, accurate costumes pertaining to the subculture, and overall mood makes "Women Talking" probably one of the most memorable cinematic experiences in my book. Hildur Guonadottir's score is phenomenal and evokes suspense and uneasiness. It also sort of has a chill-inducing effect on the spectator, whilst still being enthralled by the story. "Women Talking" may receive Oscar nominations in best production design, best original score, best screenplay, and perhaps best actress for Jessie Buckley or Claire Foy.
The film benefits from having a star-studded cast with the likes of Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Paddington himself Ben Whishaw, Jessie Buckley, and Frances McDormand. Although Frances McDormand only had a minor role in the film, she still was busy producing it behind the cameras.
To conclude, Sarah Polley's "Women Talking" tells a story of oppression, trauma, and sexual assault. It showcases the power struggle between men and women, and how women find it difficult to emancipate themselves from men. Violence against women is still pervasive in today's society, but things are slowly improving. All the women are bound together by their traumatic experiences and try to eloquently put together their thoughts on the matter. Things start to escalate, tears are wept, words are exchanged, anecdotes are shared, and despite all that these women still have a sense of humour which is quite remarkable. All these women united to make a feminist statement and stand up to their oppressors.
Other tidbits:
*For me, the colour grading wasn't an issue, in fact it reflected on the overall mood of the film.
*I adored the song "Daydream Believer" by the Monkees, played during the second act and end credits of the film. The song added a layer of positivity to the movie.
*I was completely oblivious to the fact that Brad Pitt served as executive producer for the film.
*Underappreciated characters: Ruth and Cheryl :)
Final verdict: 9.4/10.