‘Women Talking’ Telluride Review: Rooney Mara And Superb Female Ensemble In Sarah Polley’s Powerful Drama
deadline.comThe women in question here belong to a secluded rural religious order on unidentified prairieland and the talking they do throughout Sarah Polley’s immaculately made, intellectually adventurous and politically incisive new film consists of an ongoing debate that will determine the futures of these mostly young women.Of course, Polley is really addressing all women—and men as well—who are on board with the considerable political and societal changes that have taken place over the past few years and only show signs of accelerating.
Engaging an array of excellent actors to portray women in different phases of life, the writer-director draws upon egregious attitudes and behavior of the past and present to envision a significantly altered future, one that can already be glimpsed if you squint your eyes and stand in the right direction–or, as a young Black New York filmmaker hoped for and envisioned more than three decades ago, if you just do the right thing.Based on Miriam Toews’ 2018 novel, Women Talking is Polley’s fourth feature–following Away From Her, Take This Waltz and Stories We Tell– which is having its World Premiere this weekend at the Telluride Film Festival and is due from Orion and MGM in theaters on December 2.
The new film is initially set in a barn where eight trauma survivors discuss and deliberate on their dreadful experiences growing up (as Mennonites in all but name) and being repeatedly raped and in other ways brutalized.
But this is not a documentary, nor even a courtroom drama, and in no way feels like one.Taking matters into their own hands, the women decide to create their own inquiry, a debate based on trials they’ve devised for themselves, and that the decision will guide how the community, such as
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