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Women Talking (film)

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Women Talking
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySarah Polley
Screenplay bySarah Polley
Based onWomen Talking
by Miriam Toews
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyLuc Montpellier
Edited by
Music byHildur Guðnadóttir
Production
companies
Distributed byUnited Artists Releasing (United States)
Universal Pictures[1] (International)
Release dates
  • September 2, 2022 (2022-09-02) (Telluride)
  • December 23, 2022 (2022-12-23) (United States)
Running time
104 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States[2]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million
Box office$9.3 million[3][4]

Women Talking is a 2022 American drama film written and directed by Sarah Polley. Based on the 2018 novel by Miriam Toews, itself inspired by the gas-facilitated rapes that occurred at the Manitoba Colony, a remote and isolated Mennonite community in Bolivia,[5] the film follows a group of American Mennonite women who discuss their future, following their discovery of the men's history of raping the colony's women. It features an ensemble cast that includes Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand, who also served as a producer on the film. It is the last film to be released by United Artists Releasing, before it was folded into MGM on March 4, 2023.[6]

Women Talking premiered at the 49th Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2022, and was released in the United States via select theaters on December 23, 2022, before a wide release on January 27, 2023, by United Artists Releasing.[7][8] The film received positive reviews from critics, who lauded Polley's screenplay and direction, the performances of the cast (particularly of Foy, Buckley, and Whishaw) and score but underperformed at the box-office grossing $9.3 million against a $20 million budget. It was named one of the top ten films of 2022 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute,[9] won Best Adapted Screenplay at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards, 75th Writers Guild of America Awards, and the 95th Academy Awards, where it was also nominated for Best Picture.[10][11]

Plot

[edit]

A young woman sleeping alone in bed wakes to find bruises and wounds on her hips and upper inner thighs—injuries sustained from rape.

In 2010, the women and girls of an isolated Mennonite colony discover that the men have been using livestock tranquilizer to subdue and rape them. The attackers are arrested and imprisoned in a nearby city. Most of the men of the colony travel to oversee the bail, leaving the women by themselves for two days to determine how they will proceed. They hold a plebiscite to decide whether to stay and do nothing, stay and fight, or leave.

The vote is tied between staying and fighting, and leaving. Eleven of the colony's women band together at a hayloft to come to a final decision, though Scarface Janz, a woman in the "do nothing" camp, leaves the meeting after becoming disillusioned with the discussion, taking her hesitant daughter Anna and resistant granddaughter Helena with her. August, the colony's schoolteacher and one of the only remaining men, joins the women to record the meeting, as none of the women were taught to read or write.

Salome, just back from a trip to gather antibiotics to treat her assaulted four-year-old daughter, remains adamant about staying and fighting, an opinion shared by Mejal. Ona, who is pregnant after being raped, also suggests that they stay and, after winning the fight, create a new set of rules for the colony that would give the women equality. Mariche, Greta's daughter and Autje's mother, disagrees, believing that forgiveness is the only viable option. To defuse the conflict, Ona suggests that August create one document stating the pros and cons of leaving, and another document with those for staying.

The meeting is adjourned. During the break, it is revealed that August is from an excommunicated family, but was recently granted permission to return and teach the boys of the colony. He and Ona were good friends in childhood, and he has had romantic feelings for her since, but she tells him she cannot marry him as she believes that she would cease to be her true self, the person he loves, if she marries.

When some of the women go outside to be counted for the 2010 census, they learn that Klaas, Mariche's abusive husband, will return that evening to collect more bail money. The meeting resumes. Ona and Mejal change their minds in favor of leaving. Salome remains insistent upon fighting, angrily confessing that she would rather kill the men than put her daughter at risk any longer. However, she changes her opinion after being reminded by Agata, her and Ona's mother, of the principles of their faith. The only one remaining unconvinced is Mariche. An argument ensues between her and the rest of the women; it is revealed that she forgave her husband's abuse at Greta's urging. After Greta apologizes, Mariche agrees to leave.

Their reasons for leaving are transcribed by August: to ensure the safety of their children, to be steadfast in their faith, and to have freedom of thought. They decide to try to take boys aged fifteen years and younger with them, but will not force any boy over age twelve. They prepare to leave at sunrise, concealing their plans from Klaas. August, at Ona's behest, posts the documents stating the pros and cons of leaving and staying on the walls as an "artifact" of the women's time in the colony. He also declares his love to Ona and gives her a map for the women to use.

Before they can leave, Nettie, who has adopted a male identity and the name Melvin after a brutal incestuous rape and now rarely speaks except to the colony's children, tells Salome that her teenage son Aaron has fled and hidden. He is found, but cannot be convinced to leave in enough time. Salome, breaking the rules the women set, sprays Aaron with tranquilizer, forcing him to leave with them. She reveals this only to August, who understands and does not question her. He asks her to look after Ona, and reveals his intent to kill himself once the women are gone. She instead asks him to teach the boys properly to prevent any further violence and to give him purpose. Helena and Anna join the rest of the women, while Janz and August watch as they depart. Sometime later, Ona's newborn baby is shown, and Autje is heard saying that it will live a life very different from the one the women endured.

Cast

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Production

[edit]
Director and screenwriter Sarah Polley (left), actress and co-producer Frances McDormand, and author of the novel Miriam Toews.

In December 2020, it was reported that Frances McDormand would star in the film, which would be written and directed by Sarah Polley.[13] In June 2021, Ben Whishaw, Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Sheila McCarthy and Michelle McLeod joined the cast of the film.[14] Hildur Guðnadóttir composed the film's score.[15]

Principal photography took place from July 19 to September 10, 2021, in Toronto, Canada, with COVID-19 safety precautions in place.[16][17][18][19] Costume designer Quita Alfred procured some fabric and prayer coverings from an actual Mennonite community store, using differing colors and patterns for each family to represent certain traits they held as a unit.[20] Alfred noted that "trying to convince world-class actresses to wear long-sleeve polyester dresses in 110 degree heat was a challenge."[21] However, she stressed that the dresses weren't as uncomfortable as one might think. "I tried them on to see how uncomfortable the cast would be. I actually came to love them. They’re so practical, but the lack of pockets is an issue for me."[21]

Women Talking is the last film released by United Artists Releasing before Amazon folded it into Orion's parent company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[6]

Music

[edit]
Main article: Women Talking (soundtrack)

Hildur Guðnadóttir composed the film's score, with Skúli Sverrisson providing guitar solos. The soundtrack was among the inaugural titles released through Universal Music Group's label Mercury Classics Soundtrack & Score, which released this film's soundtrack digitally on December 23, 2022, the same day as the start of the film's limited theatrical release. It was released on physical CD later that month. The score cue "Speak Up," which served as the basis for the film's trailer music, was released digitally on November 4, 2022.[22][23]

The 1967 song "Daydream Believer" performed by The Monkees was featured in the film; however, it is not included on the soundtrack.[24]

Release

[edit]

The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2022.[25] It also screened at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2022, followed by screenings at the 60th New York Film Festival on October 10, 2022, and at the 2022 AFI Fest on November 5, 2022.[7] It began its limited theatrical release in the United States and Canada on December 23, 2022, by Orion Pictures (through United Artists Releasing), with a wide expansion on January 27, 2023. It was originally scheduled for a limited release on December 2, 2022,[1] but was moved to December 23 to avoid competition with Avatar: The Way of Water.[8]

The film was released for VOD on February 21, 2023, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on March 7.[26]

Reception

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Box office

[edit]

Women Talking grossed $5.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $3.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $9 million.[3][4]

On the first weekend of its limited theatrical release, it grossed $40,530 from 8 theaters, making it the worst platform opening of the year. In Deadline Hollywood, United Artists Releasing cited the proximity of Christmas and the nationwide impact of Winter Storm Elliott as contributing factors.[27] It expanded to 707 theatres in the nationwide expansion, grossing $970,469 with a $1,372 average at the box office until it dropped out on its nationwide second weekend with $558,071, finishing fifteenth twice.[28][29][30]

Following the Academy Award nomination announcements, the film welcomed a 164% boost in grosses.[31]

Critical response

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 90%, based on 296 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "While Women Talking sometimes forsakes entertaining drama in favor of simply getting its points across, its message is valuable -- and effectively delivered."[32] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 77 out of 100, based on 47 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[33]

Following the Telluride Film Festival premiere, Peter Debruge from Variety wrote that the film is a "powerful act of nonviolent protest".[34] Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times described it as "a movie that deliberately hovers between drama and parable, the materially concrete and the spiritually abstract, and whose stark austerity sometimes gives way to bursts of salty wit and cathartic laughter".[35] A. O. Scott from The New York Times called the film "a timely political parable with a stellar ensemble cast". He also described the film as "plain-spoken almost to the point of artlessness and turns out to be as layered and whorled as a hand-woven tapestry".[36] Mae Abdulbaki of Screen Rant gave the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, calling it a "riveting adaptation" with "great" and "phenomenal" performances. She also wrote that the film "tackles a difficult subject with thoughtful sensitivity, levity, and spirited discussion that will leave audiences thinking about the film and its central premise for a long time after it's over".[37]

In July 2023, Comic Book Resources ranked it as the "Best Indie Film of the 2020s (So Far)," saying that the film achieved its goals thanks to "its story and the message it sends to those in similar situations."[10] In August 2023, Collider ranked the film at number 10 on its list of "The 20 Best Drama Movies of the 2020s So Far," writing that "While it doesn’t seem like a series of conversations would make for an engaging film, director Sarah Polley ensures that each character is defined by much more than a talking point."[11]

Accolades

[edit]
Main article: List of accolades received by Women Talking

Polley received the Telluride Film Festival Silver Medallion Tribute Award.[38] Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir received a Tribute Award at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.[39] At the 95th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for Best Picture with Polley winning Best Adapted Screenplay.[40] It was also nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Original Score at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, Best Ensemble Cast of a Motion Picture at the 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards, and received six nominations at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Picture and winning Best Adapted Screenplay.[41][42][43] The film also received three nominations at the 38th Independent Spirit Awards and was the recipient of the Robert Altman Award, which is given to the film's director, casting director and ensemble cast.[44]

It was a nominee for Best Direction in a Feature Film at the 2023 Directors Guild of Canada awards.[45]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Rubin, Rebecca (August 14, 2022). "Warner Bros. to Release MGM Movies Internationally, Except for 'Bond 26'". Variety. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022. However, the pact does not include "Bond 26," the next chapter in the James Bond series, as well as director Chinonye Chukwu's historical drama "Till" (set for Oct. 14) and "Women Talking" (Dec. 2). Universal Pictures International is handling the rollout for those films outside the U.S. as part of a previous distribution agreement between the two companies.
  2. ^ a b "Women Talking (15)". BBFC. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023. Women Talking is a drama in which a group of women debate whether they should leave an abusive religious commune.
  3. ^ a b "Women Talking (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Women Talking (2022)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  5. ^ Onstad, Katrina (August 18, 2018). "Miriam Toews: 'I needed to write about these women. I could have been one of them'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  6. ^ a b McClintock, Pamela (March 4, 2023). "Box Office: 'Creed III' Wins Title with Series-Best $51M Opening". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023. Amazon protected its newfound theatrical apparatus by folding United Artists Releasing into MGM.
  7. ^ a b Simonpillai, Radheyan (July 28, 2022). "TIFF premieres include Women Talking, No Bears and Black Ice". Now Magazine. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  8. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 17, 2022). "Sarah Polley's 'Women Talking' Heads To Christmas Corridor". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  9. ^ "National Board of Review Announces 2022 Award Winners". December 8, 2022. Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "10 Best Indie Films of the 2020s (So Far)". Comic Book Resources. July 24, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "The 10 Best Drama Movies of the 2020s So Far, Ranked". Collider. August 24, 2023.
  12. ^ "At just six-years-old a Hamilton girl has already made a name for herself as a young actress, working alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood". www.chch.com. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  13. ^ McNary, Dave (December 17, 2020). "Frances McDormand to Star in 'Women Talking' From Director Sarah Polley". Variety. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  14. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 16, 2021). "Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Ben Whishaw & Others Join Frances McDormand In 'Women Talking' For Plan B & Orion". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  15. ^ "Hildur Guðnadóttir to Score Sarah Pollen's Women Talking". Film Music Reporter. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  16. ^ "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production – Women Talking". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "Women Talking (Page 10)" (PDF). Directors Guild of Canada. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  18. ^ Polley, Sarah (July 19, 2021). "Thank you @DFisman @Hawryluck Laura, and @SharkawyMD for helping to make sure we make Women Talking safely. Wouldn't be here without you today. (And look at my big crane!!!)". Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2021 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Whipp, Glenn (September 9, 2022). "The women of 'Women Talking' react to taking festival season by storm". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
  20. ^ Peterson, Karen M. (January 3, 2023). "How 'Women Talking' Costume Designer Quita Alfred Sourced Outfits From a Real-Life Mennonite Community". Variety. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  21. ^ a b Bender, Abbey (March 9, 2023). ""Painting with Colors That Have Some Muddy Water in Them": Costume Designer Quita Alfred on Women Talking | Filmmaker Magazine". Filmmaker Magazine | Publication with a focus on independent film, offering articles, links, and resources. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  22. ^ "Universal launches new soundtrack label, Mercury Classics Soundtrack & Score". Music Business Worldwide. October 18, 2022. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  23. ^ "'Women Talking' Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. November 1, 2022. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "Women Talking and The Monkees Song that Steals the Show". Paste. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  25. ^ Keegan, Rebecca (September 1, 2022). "Telluride Unveils Lineup of Films to "Fight About"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  26. ^ "Women Talking DVD Release Date". DVD Release Dates. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  27. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (December 25, 2022). "'Corsage' and its Trend-Setting Empress in Vogue at New York Theatrical Debut – Specialty Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  28. ^ "Domestic Weekend 2023 4". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  29. ^ "Domestic Weekend 2023 5". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  30. ^ "Women Talking (Domestic Box Office)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  31. ^ Debruge, Rebecca (September 3, 2022). "Oscar Nominations Give Box Office Boost to 'Everything Everywhere' and 'Women Talking'". Variety. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  32. ^ "Women Talking". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  33. ^ "Women Talking Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  34. ^ Debruge, Peter (September 3, 2022). "'Women Talking' Review: Sarah Polley Takes On the Patriarchy in This Powerful Act of Nonviolent Protest". Variety. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  35. ^ Chang, Justin (September 3, 2022). "A splendid 'Women Talking' and indulgent 'Bardo' get Telluride arguing from the start". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  36. ^ Scott, A. O. (December 22, 2022). "'Women Talking' Review: The Power of Speech". The New York Times. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  37. ^ Abdulbaki, Mae (September 18, 2022). "Women Talking Review: Polley's Riveting Adaptation Boasts Great Performances [TIFF]". Screen Rant. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  38. ^ Keegan, Rebecca (September 3, 2022). "Telluride: With 'Women Talking', Sarah Polley Brings 'Fierce' Lessons to Screen". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  39. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 25, 2022). "'Women Talking' Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir & 'The Swimmers' Filmmaker Sally El Hosaini Set as 2022 TIFF Tribute Award Honorees". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  40. ^ "The 95th Academy Awards | 2023". Oscars.org. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  41. ^ Hipes, Patrick; Petski, Denise (December 12, 2022). "Golden Globe Nominations: The Complete List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  42. ^ "The 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  43. ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 15, 2023). "'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Takes Best Picture at Critics Choice Awards – Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  44. ^ Tham, Su Fang (November 22, 2022). "They're Finally Here! The 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards Film Nominations Announced!". Film Independent. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  45. ^ Taimur Sikander Mirza, "Women Talking leads film nominees for 2023 DGC Awards". Playback, September 20, 2023.
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