Women Talking

"Do nothing. Stay and fight. Leave."

2022 1h 44m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 779

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A group of women in an isolated religious colony struggle to reconcile their faith with a series of sexual assaults committed by the colony's men.

“Do nothing. Stay and fight. Leave.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Rooney Mara
Ona
Claire Foy
Salome
Jessie Buckley
Mariche
Judith Ivey
Agata
Ben Whishaw
August
Sheila McCarthy
Greta
Kate Hallett
Autje
Michelle McLeod
Mejal

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Sarah Polley
Writers: Sarah Polley, Sam Lloyd
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 38% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 4 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Sarah Polley, shot by Luc Montpellier. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Hildur Guðnadóttir. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Christopher Donaldson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Rooney Mara and Claire Foy and Jessie Buckley carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Do nothing. Stay and fight. Leave.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt13669038 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Sarah Polley directs. Luc Montpellier behind the camera. Hildur Guðnadóttir scores. Christopher Donaldson cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 38% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 4 years ago.
3Directed by Sarah Polley, shot by Luc Montpellier. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Hildur Guðnadóttir. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Christopher Donaldson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Rooney Mara and Claire Foy and Jessie Buckley carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Do nothing. Stay and fight. Leave.".
8IMDB entry: tt13669038 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 19 themes, including "rape", "based on novel or book", "faith", "illiteracy".

The technical file

Cinematography: Luc Montpellier
Original score: Hildur Guðnadóttir
Editing: Christopher Donaldson
Production design: Peter Cosco
Costume design: Quita Alfred
Makeup / hair: Shauna Llewellyn
VFX supervisor: Kevin Chandoo
Sound: Joe Morrow
Stunt coordinator: Patrick Mark
Runtime: 104 min · 1h 44m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $20,000,000
Box office: $7,589,419
Return: 38% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Women Talking (2022)

Awards

Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Sarah Polley

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Manuel São Bento2022-10-15
★ 8/10
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/women-talking-spoiler-free-review-lff-2022 "Women Talking holds a lovely score by Hildur Guðnadóttir and features truly mesmerizing performances - Claire Foy being a clear standout - with emotionally powerful monologues that can break even the least sensitive viewer. Sarah Polley's exceptionally written and choreographed screenplay tremendously enriches the primary debate driven by the fully developed characters, where trauma, religion, acceptance, forgiveness, revenge, and power are some of the most memorable themes. The detail and complexity that go into each character demonstrate remarkable dedication and care. Worthy of several (and inevitable) awards." Rating: A-
Nate2022-12-17
★ 10/10
A thought provoking and moving, truly remarkable film. Could have been made with such dryness but Sarah Polley's inventive direction and incredible script combine wonderfully. Wisely chooses to be both gutting and uplifting. The discussions brought up are fascinating and not a single line of dialogue is wasted. All delivered by an outstanding cast, with Jessie Buckley being the best in show in a nuanced and fierce performance. One of the best of the year.
CinemaSerf2023-02-25
★ 7/10
I found this to be a curiously compelling drama that takes us to a fictional town where the women meet to decide how best to combat the brutality being routinely visited upon them. They must evaluate the pros and cons of staying and forgiving, of fighting back - or of just getting out of the place. Each position has some merit, and there is no clear cut solution as they convene in an hayloft and, with the help of their unassuming school teacher "August" (Ben Whishaw), come to this most difficult of decisions. Now I will admit to being somewhat confused as to exactly whom they were in fear of, and of just how they found themselves entirely alone whilst their husbands were all off in town trying to raise the ransom for those who inflicted the violence in the first place (though clearly not for the first time) and had somehow been apprehended and detained by the authorities. Frances McDormand's "Scarface" has endured this suffering for a long time, as has Judith Ivey's "Agata" but they take differing stances, leaving the younger women led by the fractious "Mariche" (Jessie Buckley), "Ona" (Rooney Mara) and a slightly underwhelming Claire Foy ("Salome") to make a choice that will apply to all the villagers - women and their children. Can they conclude their deliberations before their men folk return? On the face of to, their deliberations ought to have been fairly straightforward, but Sarah Polley introduces a layered approach to their conundrum. There is faith; there is fear - of the known and the unknown; there is also a degree of reluctance amongst the women to have an open and frank conversation and this frequently leads to a sharp and tetchy conversation that successfully heightens the drama and gradually develops some of the characters. It has an observational nature to it that I found quite enthralling - and despite not having enough context to quite appreciate the entire scenario, I did find this interesting to watch.