Review 693: Women Talking

  

Based on the novel Women Talking by Miriam Toews, In the year 2010, a group of women who are part of an isolated Mennonites colony discuss their future, following their discovery of the men's history of raping them.

The events of this film, which are actually based on real life are deeply harrowing and unsettling. Director Sarah Polley doesn't shy away from showing us the horror and the impact  have had on these women and while no actual assult is shown

For most of its 104 minute runtime, we get debates regarding what misfortunes have befallen these woman and what they're going to do about it. There some really powerful points-of-view being discussed very cogently by these women because they have to, because they believe it and have the courage of their convictions to speak up about it. These women have been silenced for a long time and have had their innocence stripped away. Now they have this tremendous responsibility to decide the future for the rest of the colony.

Sarah Polley's direction is terrific, handling the troubling subject matter with sensitivity, compasion and understanding the cinematography is the score by Hildur Guonadottir is beautifully haunting, making excellent use of strings to create a pleasent, hopeful melody that serves as a shining light in the dark. 

The cast that Sarah Polley has assembled is beautiful ensamble. Let me cite a list of those performers: Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Whishaw & Frances McDormand. Rather awesome.

Claire Foy is a standout playing Salome, she absolutely steals every scene she's in. Bringing to the surface a rage that has been boiling beneath the surface for quite some time.

Ben Whishaw doesn't lag far behind with a really sensitive performance playing August, the colonys schoolteacher. In a colony filled with bastads, its so refreshing to have a male character who's so nice and just wants to help these women in any way he can.