And for 104 minutes people purely talk, if that's your cup of tea

★★ 1/2 out of ★★★★ (👍)

Women Talking (2022)

Runtime: 104 minutes

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content including sexual assault, bloody images, and some strong language.

"This story ends before you were born."

'Women Talking", literally titled and the equivalent of one character saying, "if we leave we will be gone", is based on the 2018 book by author Miriam Toews. Her book is a reimagining of a very horrific real-life event that is already harrowing. For several years since the mid 2000's, men from the Manitoba Colony would use cattle anesthetic to drug young girls and women of a wide variety of ages and render them unconscious. The victims would often wake up with blood on their legs, some becoming pregnant, some eventually dying or committing suicide. 

The actual story: one woman in 2009 was awake during the assault and caught two men committing the other-worldly crime. Eventually, the accused men were handed over to the Bolivia police, where the case would go on trial and a total of seven out of eight men were found guilty, with one unfortunately fleeing the court proceeding.

"Women Talking" (will refer to the film adaptation) offers an insight into the impact of the assault to the victims, while only shedding some light on deeply sensitive issues and themes. It is also an unexpectedly faith-based film, but is sensible enough to not be too preachy. Writer and director Sarah Polley draws out strong performances from the three main female leads that are so intense, they reasonably cover up what sometimes feels like an exercise in acting or dialogue.

The film doesn't offer much of a narrative, though, so the entire movie has no pace and is almost literally women talking. It's a much more toned down version of the real-life events, with the sexual assault having already happened before the film starts. I understand that it's PG-13 rating means that they are only indirectly referred to throughout the film.

Anyways, we cut to 2010, where women have discovered of the crimes that men of the Mennonite colony have done to them. They have been manipulated into thinking that the attackers were Satan or some demonic presence. As most of the men have travelled outside to oversee the bail, the women have two days to decide on what to do. Three options are presented to the colony: Do nothing. Stay and fight. Leave.

As "Stay and fight" and "Leave" are tied with equal amount of votes, eleven of the colony's women gather at a barn and ultimately start up a debate on what to do. Scarface (Frances McDormand) leaves the meeting and takes her daughter and granddaughter with her (and it's such a waste, given three-time Oscar winner McDormand's excellent acting skills). The colony's schoolteacher, August (Ben Whishaw), records the meeting as none of the women were taught how to read and write.

The three main leads: Salome (Claire Foy), Ona (Rooney Mara), and Mariche (Jessie Buckley) all give compelling reasons for and against leaving the Mennonite colony. Salome channels all her rage in one scene, showing her as a caring mother who angrily confesses that she will harm and kill men or any living thing that dares to touch her daughter. This also leads to some insightful questions one could ponder upon. Will revenge and violence ultimately be the way to solve all problems?

In contrast, Ona is a more calm, well-spoken person who offers more thought-provoking things to say. Though she's pregnant, she doesn't offer much to say about the impact it has had on her, and decides to move forward with kindness and forgiveness.

On the other hand, Mariche is frequently mad, criticises others' decisions and speech, and highlights how traumatised and scared she and other victims are following the attacks. This also leads to a rather ingenuine move the community has asked them to do, to "forgive the men". She replies after an argument ends, "Perhaps forgiveness can in some instances be confused with permission."

Given the sensitive subject matter "Women Talking" discusses about, the film is also smart to not completely vilify the male gender. Ona, with great wisdom and compassion, reassures, "He or she is as innocent and lovable as the evening sun. So too was the child’s father when he was born."

In addition, despite teenage boys' age of around 13 around puberty, August, with great knowledge and truth, states, "I believe that with guidance, firm love and patience, these boys are capable of relearning their roles as males in the colony." Ben Whishaw gives a tender and believable performance, until his character starts breaking down into tears a tad too often by the time the third act rolls around.

In terms of presentation, "Women Talking" is not much of a success. Watching people blabber and speak is simply not that interesting. Moreover, like I mentioned, the lack of any narrative, or action, or something even remotely interesting will also lose some viewers for good.

Whether it's engaging throughout its running time or not, "Women Talking", despite how it delivers its message, successfully gets its points through.

Update: Women Talking has won one Academy Award.