December 30, 2022
FILM: WOMEN TALKING
DIRECTED BY: SARAH POLLEY
STARRING: ROONEY MARA, CLAIRE FOY, JESSIE BUCKLEY
RATING: 3 STARS OUT OF 4
By Dan Pal
I’ve been a fan of all of the feature films Sarah Polley previously directed. Away From Her was a stunning examination of a woman’s descent into Alzheimer’s Disease. Take This Waltz was an extremely heartfelt and heartbreaking story of lust and infidelity. Stories We Tell followed Polley’s own uncovering of her family’s secrets. Each of these is a quite brilliant human story featuring Polley’s own unique eye and sensibility. Women Talking is her much celebrated writing and directing new work which follows the discussions of several women debating whether to fight or leave the men who have entrapped and victimized them in a closed off religious community.
This is the most curious directing choice for Polley after a long absence making features. While it continues her exploration of the relationships between men and women, fathers, mothers, and their children, it is a pretty frustrating experience from the get go. There’s not a lot of information given about the whereabouts of these women, their farms, or even the specific time period in which the film covers. This may be an attempt to make the film more universal than specific in its themes and ideas. It IS after all about women, well, mostly talking. I can understand why, even based on the title, the film might have a hard time attracting a male audience. There is only one male character in the film, a teacher named August (played by Ben Wishaw) and his role is substantial but the male point of view is not what this film is trying to depict.
The discussions concern whether the women and their children should leave the colony in which they live or if they should fight off the men who have raped and beaten them. They’ve never been outside their small community and have never learned to read or write. As such the film philosophizes whether forgiveness or revenge are in order. If they choose the latter, will they be excommunicated from their church and left without a place in the afterlife? Should they resort to violence or protection for each other and their children? August is the male character that represents all that a man could be. He’s soft, loving, patient, and non-violent.
Most of the film takes place in a barn and Polley attempts to infuse these scenes with a multitude of camera angles and shots of the world just outside of its open doors. There are also a few flashbacks and moving cameras but this is, for all intents and purposes, a one-room drama where choices are debated and questioned. It is the hallmark of a “talkie” film. One has to go in to the film knowing this or be incredibly challenged by the lack of ANY real action.
It is curious that we never see any of the men in these women’s lives. Any violence occurs off screen. This is a brave choice but it doesn’t add a lot of visual tension to the film. That comes mostly from the interactions between some of the women who have varying and often jarring ideas as to the direction they should next take. One also has to wonder where exactly the men are during these discussions. Once a decision is made, we still don’t see them anywhere near the women or their children.
The performances have received the most attention here. Jessie Buckley and Claire Foy have the biggest scenes. They’re very good, if a bit overly dramatic at times. Rooney Mara has the more subtle role and she handles it beautifully, especially her scenes with Wishaw. It’s unclear exactly what drew Frances McDormand to a very small part in this film though. As a producer, perhaps she thought her name in the cast could provide a potentially bigger audience for the film. Personally, I’d have liked to see her play one of the older female characters that are part of this colony of women.
In the end, this film is exactly what you might think it is. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it should be clear that this is a film about ideas and choices. Any action comes as a result of those 90+ minutes of debate.
Women Talking opens theatrically this week.
FILM: WOMEN TALKING
DIRECTED BY: SARAH POLLEY
STARRING: ROONEY MARA, CLAIRE FOY, JESSIE BUCKLEY
RATING: 3 STARS OUT OF 4
By Dan Pal
I’ve been a fan of all of the feature films Sarah Polley previously directed. Away From Her was a stunning examination of a woman’s descent into Alzheimer’s Disease. Take This Waltz was an extremely heartfelt and heartbreaking story of lust and infidelity. Stories We Tell followed Polley’s own uncovering of her family’s secrets. Each of these is a quite brilliant human story featuring Polley’s own unique eye and sensibility. Women Talking is her much celebrated writing and directing new work which follows the discussions of several women debating whether to fight or leave the men who have entrapped and victimized them in a closed off religious community.
This is the most curious directing choice for Polley after a long absence making features. While it continues her exploration of the relationships between men and women, fathers, mothers, and their children, it is a pretty frustrating experience from the get go. There’s not a lot of information given about the whereabouts of these women, their farms, or even the specific time period in which the film covers. This may be an attempt to make the film more universal than specific in its themes and ideas. It IS after all about women, well, mostly talking. I can understand why, even based on the title, the film might have a hard time attracting a male audience. There is only one male character in the film, a teacher named August (played by Ben Wishaw) and his role is substantial but the male point of view is not what this film is trying to depict.
The discussions concern whether the women and their children should leave the colony in which they live or if they should fight off the men who have raped and beaten them. They’ve never been outside their small community and have never learned to read or write. As such the film philosophizes whether forgiveness or revenge are in order. If they choose the latter, will they be excommunicated from their church and left without a place in the afterlife? Should they resort to violence or protection for each other and their children? August is the male character that represents all that a man could be. He’s soft, loving, patient, and non-violent.
Most of the film takes place in a barn and Polley attempts to infuse these scenes with a multitude of camera angles and shots of the world just outside of its open doors. There are also a few flashbacks and moving cameras but this is, for all intents and purposes, a one-room drama where choices are debated and questioned. It is the hallmark of a “talkie” film. One has to go in to the film knowing this or be incredibly challenged by the lack of ANY real action.
It is curious that we never see any of the men in these women’s lives. Any violence occurs off screen. This is a brave choice but it doesn’t add a lot of visual tension to the film. That comes mostly from the interactions between some of the women who have varying and often jarring ideas as to the direction they should next take. One also has to wonder where exactly the men are during these discussions. Once a decision is made, we still don’t see them anywhere near the women or their children.
The performances have received the most attention here. Jessie Buckley and Claire Foy have the biggest scenes. They’re very good, if a bit overly dramatic at times. Rooney Mara has the more subtle role and she handles it beautifully, especially her scenes with Wishaw. It’s unclear exactly what drew Frances McDormand to a very small part in this film though. As a producer, perhaps she thought her name in the cast could provide a potentially bigger audience for the film. Personally, I’d have liked to see her play one of the older female characters that are part of this colony of women.
In the end, this film is exactly what you might think it is. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it should be clear that this is a film about ideas and choices. Any action comes as a result of those 90+ minutes of debate.
Women Talking opens theatrically this week.