Women Talking is an American drama film directed by Sarah Polley, and it’s based on the bestselling and award-winning novel of the same name, written by Miriam Toews. The film adaptation features an ensemble cast including Rooney Mara as Ona, Claire Foy as Salome, Jessie Buckley as Mariche, Judith Ivey as Agata, Frances McDormand as “Scarface” Janz, Ben Whishaw as August, and more.

Following the story of a group of women who live in a deeply religious and isolated colony, they come together to discuss the future for themselves and the other women, but they’re also conflicted due to their religious beliefs. They discuss the times they were taken advantage of by the men and whether it was right or wrong; they were always taught to forgive them no matter how severely they were treated, and that their injuries were caused by ghosts and other supernatural reasons. With a few days to decide their fate before the abusive men return to the colony, they hold a vote to decide whether to stay and do nothing, stay and fight, or leave.

The film is very dialogue heavy, but is done incredibly well and will keep audiences invested in what happens next. During their meetings, they discuss all the times they woke up in pain and not knowing why, as well as the times some of them tried to stand up for themselves, only to be beaten by the men and put back in their place.

Because only the boys may receive a formal education, the girls grow up not knowing how to read or write, and are bound to be obedient to the men by doing various tasks around the colony, such as farming, cooking, cleaning, sewing, and raising the children. This makes them easily manipulated by the men, who often use their religion to keep them in line and make them submissive to their mental and physical abuse.

Along with the dialogue-heavy plot, there are also glimpses of flashback scenes showing the abuse of what the women have been experiencing. It’s never explicitly stated exactly what happened, but seeing bruising on their inner thighs, broken teeth, blood stains on the lower half of their dresses, puddles of blood between their feet, and other bodily harm, gives a good indication of what the men did to them, and creates some shocking imagery. No matter what, however, they keep referring back to their religion and keep forgiving the men.

It’s clear to see that deep down, the women are aware that what’s been happening to them isn’t right, but really don’t know what to do because of their lack of education, limited knowledge of the outside world, and extreme isolation. Their meetings help bring these issues to light, by discussing the pros and cons of staying and doing nothing, staying and fighting, or leaving. August, a teacher in the colony and one of the only men they can trust, helps them list the pros and cons of each option because he can read and write.

The film does an excellent job of showing the struggle the isolated women face when weighing their options. While it’s obvious to us what the best decision is for everyone, it contradicts their knowledge, or lack thereof, and religious beliefs. During these discussions, they often think back to all the abuse they’ve experienced throughout their lives, but even then they still struggle to come to terms with what’s best for everyone in the long run.

The majority of the movie takes place inside a barn used for the meetings, but it occasionally shows a lot of the colony from the vast farmlands, old buildings, and children playing and looking happy. This gives off the impression that they live in a very peaceful society with beautiful scenery, but the film is also quick to remind audiences of the brutal dark side of the colony.

The film’s soundtrack, composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, also does a fantastic job complimenting each scene. The music is more subtle and light during the more peaceful scenes, and dark and gritty in the horrific flashback scenes. The 1967 classic country song, Daydream Believer, by songwriter John Stewart, is also featured in the film, adding to the atmosphere of the movie.

There are a fair few differences between the film and the novel it was based on. They both, however, do an amazing job detailing the horrific lives these women have to face every day. Whether the film or novel is better is more up to the individual, since it’s mostly the same story told in two slightly different ways; but both are guaranteed to take audiences or readers on a real emotional rollercoaster.

The entire main cast gives stellar performances while bringing these characters to life. They don’t shy away from telling their shocking stories, but also have occasions where they can show their sense of humour. The supporting cast also deserves a lot of praise, which included August Winter as Melvin, a transgender man who after being raped only speaks to children and not adults, and blind actress Shayla Brown as Helena, who doesn’t have a big role but leaves a lasting impression with the screen time she does get. Shayla has been pushing for more diversity in film and theatre for actors with disabilities, and her role in Women Talking is another to add to her already impressive credentials.

Other than August and a select few, many of the male characters aren’t referred to by name or even have their faces shown. It really is a movie that allows the women to tell their stories with no boundaries, and it’s seen through the lens of a woman thanks to directing of Sarah Polley and the novel written by Miriam Toews.

The film, for the most part, is dark, sad, and horrific, but gives a really deep insight into the lives of women who have to live without choices for themselves and their bodies. The story is inspired by true events and actual religious colonies that still exist today. It holds nothing back but also doesn’t overdo it. It allows the women to open up and tell their stories in a safe space and shows the dark reality that many women still face to this day. Women Talking is no doubt a must-watch and a real eye-opening experience.

Written by: Sammy Hanson