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Women Talking Blu-ray Review

“Women Talking” is a relevant, but repetitious film. 

Based on the novel by Mirian Towes (and based on true events in a Manitoba Mennonite colony), “Women Talking” revolves around a group of women that are part of an unnamed religious community that lives in isolation. The story begins with the stomach churning revelation that some of the men in the community have been drugging and raping the women. While the men are away save for a helpful school teacher (August) and a mute transgender man (Melvin), the women convene to discuss the next steps they should take whether it be staying and fighting or leaving. As the women weigh the potentially life changing decisions, they must also come to terms with how this will affect their own family members. 

Longtime actor Sarah Polley has made quite a splash as a filmmaker with the highly underrated “Stories We Tell” and “Take This Waltz.” After a 10 year break, Polley returns with her Academy Award nominated film “Women Talking.” While it’s undoubtedly a timely and important film about accountability, solidarity, faith, trauma, feminism,the patriarchy, and sexual assault, its lack of subtlety makes it not as impactful as it could have been. For starters, the entire film plays like one big deliberation in which everything is discussed over and over. Granted, there have been a lot of great conversational movies ala “12 Angry Men,” but given how talky ‘Women’ is, it’s puzzling as to how little character there is. The characters themselves are more a representation of a viewpoint which is disappointing (especially given the level of talent involved). Polley (who also wrote the script) had a real opportunity to dig deep into these characters and the themes themselves, but instead bluntly gives us everything in a very overwritten stage play like manner that isn’t remotely cinematic.

Going back to the cast, this film boasts quite the ensemble here with the likes of Frances McDormand (in a brief role), Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Rooney Mara and Ben Whishaw. The rage filled Foy delivers an intense performance while Whishaw and Mara have the most heartfelt performances here.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.76:1 1080p. Grade: A

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. Grade: B+

Extras:
* DVD copy
* Digital copy

March 5, 2023 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Academy Awards, Claire Foy, Frances McDormand, Rooney Mara, sarah polley, Women Talking, Women Talking Blu-ray Review