Women Talking
Women Talking is a 2022 American drama film written and directed by Sarah Polley.
Women Talking is a 2022 American drama film written and directed by Sarah Polley. It is based on Miriam Toews’s 2018 novel of the same name, which was inspired by real sexual assaults in a Mennonite community in Bolivia. The film follows a group of Mennonite women as they debate how to respond to abuse in their colony.
Premise
The film depicts women in a secluded religious community who meet to decide how to respond after discovering years of sexual abuse committed by men in the colony. Their discussion frames the story as a moral and practical choice between forgiveness, resistance, and departure.
Production and source material
Women Talking is adapted from Miriam Toews’s 2018 novel, which was inspired by sexual assaults reported in a Mennonite community in Bolivia. Sarah Polley wrote the screenplay and directed the film.
Release and reception
The film premiered at Telluride in September 2022 and was released in U.S. theatres in late 2022, with a wider release in January 2023. Reviews were generally favourable, with critics praising Polley’s writing and direction and the ensemble performances.
Awards and recognition
Women Talking received multiple awards nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Coverage highlighted it as a notable drama about survival, solidarity, faith, and nonviolent protest.
Key facts
- The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2022.
- It is adapted from Miriam Toews’s 2018 novel, which was itself inspired by real events in Bolivia.
- The story centres on women in an isolated Mennonite colony deciding whether to stay, fight, or leave after learning of systemic abuse.
- Sarah Polley wrote and directed the film.
- The film received positive critical reviews and was nominated for major awards, including Best Picture.
The film was directed by Canadian filmmaker Sarah Polley and adapted from a novel by Canadian author Miriam Toews, making it especially relevant to Canadian readers.[1][5][14]
Frequently asked questions
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References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_Talking_(film)Supports: Basic film identification, direction, release dates, source novel, and general plot context.
- RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/women-talking-movie-review-2022Supports: Plot premise and discussion of the real-life inspiration behind the film.
- IMDb — https://www.imbd.com/title/tt13669038/?language=de-deSupports: General plot description and genre classification.
- Vanity Fair — https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/09/women-talking-movie-reviewSupports: Premiere context, plot premise, and critical framing.
- Catholics for Choice — https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/resource-library/film-review-women-talking/Supports: Adaptation details, source inspiration, and thematic description.
- Variety — https://www.variety.com/2022/film/reviews/women-talking-review-sarah-polley-1235357980/Supports: Critical reception and recognition of the film’s conversation-driven structure.
- Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/women_talkingSupports: Director, screenwriter, producers, distributor, genre, runtime, rating, and release information.
- Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/women-talkingSupports: Runtime, rating, cast, and release timing.