THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Some old ways are impossible to be rid of.
PLOT
Based on the novel by Miriam Towes, Women Talking takes place in 2010 and follows an isolated Mennonite colony of women who have been subdued (via cow tranquilizer) by and raped by men. When one man gets caught in the act, all attackers get arrested and imprisoned in a nearby city, but are set to oversee bail within two days. This leads to a group of women to debate on what to do when they get back. While one named Scarface becomes so disillusioned that she chooses to stay and forgive them all, the majority have a tie between leaving and staying to fight back. Only two kind men are able to stay with the women as the decision becomes decided. An excommunicated schoolteacher named August records the meeting whereas the transgender Melvin (August Winter) is left in charge to watch over most of the children and to warn them of any outside developments. Salome and Mejal are adamant to fight back, but a pregnant Ona considers a new set of rules for the colony if they succeed in fighting back. Mariche, daughter of Greta and mother of Autje, makes clear that forgiveness is a safer option. When the meeting is briefly ajourned, Ona and Mejal change their minds and agree to leave upon discovery of Mariche's abusive husband returning to collect bail money. Although Salome remained insistent, she is convinced by her mother Agata to change her mind. Mariche would be the last to change her mind after confessing to being urged to forgive her abusive husband. With the vote being unanimous, August would read the pros of the reason to live: ensuring safety of the children, being steadfast in faith and having freedom of thought. With about everyone on the same page, they agree to leave by sunrise and take their children including their sons under the age of 15 without force. At Ona's behest, August would leave behind the documents of their decision as an artifact of the women's time in the colony. Before she heads out, he would confess his love for her he's felt since their shared childhood. Before everyone else is ready to leave, Salome would make a difficult decision to tranquilize her son when being unable to convince him in time. August would discover this, but chooses not to question her. When he asks her to look after Ona, she would ask him in return to teach the remaining boys properly to prevent any further violence, which'll give them purpose. The film would end with August and Scarface watching the women freely depart from their prison and start the new lives they deserve.
THOUGHTS
2022 has provided so much impactful stories it would make to miss a few. When I heard this was nominated for Best Picture, I knew I had to see this soon and my god this was a lot to take, which I respect. Writer/Director Sarah Polley gets your attention in telling something that is extremely relevant to modern times. It shocks me knowing things like this are still happening to this day when this country is supposed to define diversity and independence. Obviously it's impossible to stop crime all at once, but it's insane it can get this far for slime specimen of men to be so relentless. Looking at the circumstances in the story's environment, this creates a chance to inspire overcoming evil and the relief that can come afterwards. Trauma can be known to debilitate someone, but this time, it creates action. There are idiots of men who think of women as objects, well they're very wrong. Women are capable of doing anything and everything they like and don't really need help from the opposite gender to do so. This would not have been captured efficiently without the SAG nominated ensemble. Each actress have incredible chemistry with one another and help make it an epic yet intimate moment for their characters to become fearless together with their final decision. And thanks to Luc Montpellier's cinematography, it really felt like you are aware of everyone present to the story. To me, the clearest perspectives go to Kate Hallett's and Liv McNeil's Neitje. They're the youngest of the group we focus on, and we connect with them a lot because they are curious yet self-aware as the adults around them. They know what the men have done are wrong and are hoping for the elders before them make right the decision that involves them living freely in the end. In all honesty, since they caught one man in the act, I believe both girls would've left without the need to vote. Of course, they wouldn't have had the confidence without the women willing to finally break out of the shell. Judith Ivey and Sheila McCarthy were another interesting pair as the matriarchs Agat and Greta respectively. Ivey makes clear Agata has a heart who must be rational to find satisfaction with the end result. McCarthy on the other hand makes Greta one who is soft spoken yet knows a decision has to be made. It is indeed a hard decision because the only things they knew in life were within the community, but she knew like the rest that a change had to come and luckily, she got to take part in that. Another relatable character has to be Mejal since Michelle McLeod shows her as one who struggles to verbalize feelings thus lives off of vices to remain calm enough to take part in the debate. People react differently to things, and this is a fine example. I'm rooting for these women to break free the whole time, but for some reason, I'm rooting for Salome the most. Claire Foy captures all the anger without regret and with good reason. She is willing to fight because she is not going to take it with the pain for her and her daughter anymore. Her actions are the most righteous because she doesn't have enough choices to do things smoothly. If she doesn't defend herself, no one else is going to try either. She didn't want to tranquilize her son, but she wasn't gonna bare the chance of him becoming a monster like the men that harmed her and that proves how the hardest choices have to require the strongest wills in general. Jessie Buckley also brought her own set of impact in the role of Mariche. She is one who is tougher than people thinks because besides the fear she has within, she was brave enough to take the risk of changing her life now in the moment because there wouldn't be a later if she stayed. So, seeing her take part in leaving proves that there are risks worth taking. Rooney Mara was also a standout for playing Ona. She is the most hopeful and surprisingly the calmest of the group. I think that was beneficial of her because she had to ensure to have a clear head with her decision and thankfully, she picked the choice that would build a better future for her baby. Considering that these women express how terrible the men were to them, it became hard to imagine a few that had a heart. Luckily, August was one of them. He is a shy man because he doesn't exactly belong with them. He knows what they're going through and feels bad for them but doesn't exactly relate to the trauma. It is only the excommunication where he relates to the isolation. Based on the shown conversations with Ona, it's clear that his love for genuine because he admires her confidence in finding a better tomorrow, vice versa. I don't condone suicide, but I don't blame him for wanting to since the society is surrounded with is so depressing to witness. Thankfully, Salome saves his life and gives him the chance to pave the way of a better generation. And last but not least, you don't get a lot of Frances McDormand, but her presence as Scarface spoke volumes. Disillusioned the only way to describe this tragic figure because she has been there the longest and lost her will to speak for herself. The trauma has effected her so much she can't comprehend what she is deciding. And seeing her look at everyone leave, you still feel heartache because you wish she still had enough courage to go as well. The final shot where we see Ona's newborn reflects exactly what it should be, that a new era is coming and it will be for the greater good of mankind. In short, Women Talking is a worthy Best Picture nominee for being a story of pure bravery within. You want a movie that can inspire you in an unexpected way? This one might do the trick.
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