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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
  • Christopher Donaldson
  • Roslyn Kalloo
Music byHildur Guðnadóttir
Production
companies
Distributed byUnited Artists Releasing
Release dates
  • September 2, 2022 (2022-09-02) (Telluride)
  • December 23, 2022 (2022-12-23) (United States)
Running time
104 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States[1]
LanguageEnglish
Box office$6.8 million[2][3]

Women Talking is a 2022 American drama film written and directed by Sarah Polley. It is based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Miriam Toews, and inspired by real-life events that occurred at the Manitoba Colony, a remote and isolated Mennonite community in Bolivia.[4] The film stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand, who is also a producer on the film.

Women Talking had its world premiere at the 49th Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2022, and was released in the United States via select cinemas on December 23, 2022, before a wide release on January 27, 2023, by United Artists Releasing.[5][6] The film received praise from critics for Polley's screenplay and direction, the performances of the cast (particularly Foy, Buckley, and Whishaw) and score. It was named one of the top ten films of 2022 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute,[7] and at the 95th Academy Awards received nominations for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also the last film released by UAR before Amazon ceased the distributor's operations and folded it into MGM, Orion's parent company.[8]

Plot

In 2010, the women and girls of an unnamed, isolated Mennonite colony discover that the men have been using cow 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, a "do-nothing" woman, 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 two remaining men, joins the women to record the meeting, as none of the women were taught to read or write. The second man is Melvin, a transgender man who after being raped does not speak, except to the younger people. Therefore, he is left in charge of watching over them and warning them of any outside developments.

Salome, just back from a trip to gather antibiotics for her little daughter who was assaulted, 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 doing the same 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 so that he could be a teacher to the boys of the colony. He and Ona were good childhood friends, and he has had romantic feelings for her since.

When the women are 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 in further harm's way. However, she changes her opinion after being reminded by Agata, her mother as well as Ona's, of the principles of their faith. The only remaining unconvinced member 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 15 years and younger with them, but will not force any boy over the age of 12. 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, Melvin 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 of their departure, tranquillizes Aaron, 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 Scarface and August watch on as they depart.

Cast

Production

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.[9] In June 2021, Ben Whishaw, Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Sheila McCarthy and Michelle McLeod joined the cast of the film.[10] Hildur Guðnadóttir composed the film's score.[11]

Principal photography took place from July 19 to September 10, 2021 in Toronto, with COVID-19 safety precautions in place.[12][13][14][15] 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.[16]

Music

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 was 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.[17][18]

The 1967 song "Daydream Believer" by songwriter John Stewart was featured in the film, however it is not included on the soundtrack.[citation needed]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2022.[19] 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.[5] 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,[20] but was moved to December 23 to avoid competition with Avatar: The Way of Water.[6]

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

Reception

Box office

As of March 2, 2023, Women Talking has grossed $4.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $1.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $6.8 million.[2][3]

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. Deadline cited the proximity of Christmas, the nationwide impact of Winter Storm Elliott, and the general public no longer showing support for prestige films as contributing factors.[22] It expanded to 707 theatres in the nationwide expansion, grossing $970,469 with $1,372 avenue at the box office until it drop out on nationwide second weekend with $558,071, finishing fifteenth 2 times.[23][24][25] The film's underperformance also resulted in Amazon shutting down UAR's operations and folding it into MGM, Orion's parent company.[26]

Critical response

Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley and Ben Whishaw all received particular praise for their performances.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 91% based on 268 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. 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."[27] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 79 out of 100 based on 47 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[28]

Peter Debruge from Variety called the film a "powerful act of nonviolent protest".[29] In a review following the Telluride Film Festival, Justin Chang from Los Angeles Times described the film 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".[30]

Accolades

Main article: List of accolades received by Women Talking

Polley received the Telluride Film Festival Silver Medallion tribute award.[31] Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir received a tribute award at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.[32] It was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 95th Academy Awards, 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 6 nominations at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Picture.

References

  1. ^ a b "Women Talking (15)". BBFC. Women Talking is a US drama in which a group of women debate whether they should leave an abusive religious commune.
  2. ^ a b "Women Talking (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Women Talking (2022)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  4. ^ Onstad, Katrina (August 18, 2018). "Miriam Toews: 'I needed to write about these women. I could have been one of them'". The Guardian. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Simonpillai, Radheyan (July 28, 2022). "TIFF premieres include Women Talking, No Bears and Black Ice". Now Magazine. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  6. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 17, 2022). "Sarah Polley's 'Women Talking' Heads To Christmas Corridor". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "National Board of Review Announces 2022 Award Winners". December 8, 2022.
  8. ^ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/creed-iii-box-office-opening-1235340591/
  9. ^ McNary, Dave (December 17, 2020). "Frances McDormand to Star in 'Women Talking' From Director Sarah Polley". Variety. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  10. ^ 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. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "Hildur Guðnadóttir to Score Sarah Pollen's Women Talking". Film Music Reporter. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  12. ^ "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production - Women Talking". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  13. ^ "Women Talking (Page 10)" (PDF). Directors Guild of Canada. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  14. ^ 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!!!)". Twitter. Retrieved July 19, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Whipp, Glenn (September 9, 2022). "The women of 'Women Talking' react to taking festival season by storm". Los Angeles Times.
  16. ^ Peterson, Karen M. (January 3, 2023). "How 'Women Talking' Costume Designer Quita Alfred Sourced Outfits From a Real-Life Mennonite Community". Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  17. ^ "Universal launches new soundtrack label, Mercury Classics Soundtrack & Score". Music Business Worldwide. October 18, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  18. ^ "'Women Talking' Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. November 1, 2022.
  19. ^ Keegan, Rebecca (September 1, 2022). "Telluride Unveils Lineup of Films to "Fight About"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  20. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (August 14, 2022). "Warner Bros. to Release MGM Movies Internationally, Except for 'Bond 26'". Variety. 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.
  21. ^ "Women Talking DVD Release Date". www.dvdsreleasedates.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  22. ^ "'Corsage' and its Trend-Setting Empress in Vogue at New York Theatrical Debut – Specialty Box Office". December 25, 2022.
  23. ^ "Domestic Weekend 2023 4". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  24. ^ "Domestic Weekend 2023 5". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  25. ^ "Women Talking (Domestic Box Office)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  26. ^ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/creed-iii-box-office-opening-1235340591/
  27. ^ "Women Talking". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  28. ^ "Women Talking Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  29. ^ Debruge, Peter (September 3, 2022). "'Women Talking' Review: Sarah Polley Takes On the Patriarchy in This Powerful Act of Nonviolent Protest". Variety. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  30. ^ Chang, Justin (September 3, 2022). "A splendid 'Women Talking' and indulgent 'Bardo' get Telluride arguing from the start". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  31. ^ Keegan, Rebecca (September 3, 2022). "Telluride: With 'Women Talking,' Sarah Polley Brings 'Fierce' Lessons to Screen". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  32. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 25, 2022). "'Women Talking' Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir & 'The Swimmers' Filmmaker Sally El Hosaini Set As 2022 TIFF Tribute Award Honorees". Deadline. Retrieved September 5, 2022.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Women_Talking_(film)&oldid=1142960530"