WOMEN TALKING

The main drama on view is whether the women in a strange religious colony are going to leave, or alternatively to "stay and fight".  This decision is being made by a kind of committee, so indeed the film does comprise 'women talking' and not much else. 

On paper this might not sound very exciting, but the outstanding cast (headed by Rooney Mara and Claire Foy), together with the skilful direction and screenplay (both by Sarah Polley), succeed in creating characters that we care about, from young girls to their grandmothers.  

We quickly learn that women and girls in the colony are routinely drugged and raped, and are generally subservient to the men.  So there is plenty of anger on display, not all of which is directed at the men, as well as moments of humour and compassion. 

So for me the film was a moving and engaging human drama.

The only man that the women trust is August (Ben Whishaw).  I think it is significant that he is the colony’s school teacher, because education is an important theme in the film.  Unsurprisingly, girls in the colony do not get taught, as one way to keep them ‘in their place’.

The film makes little effort to ground the colony in any specific time or place, or indeed in any specific reality, which I think has the effect of giving the women we see a kind of universality.  It's as though we are watching a feminist version of 'Twelve Angry Men', where all men are on trial, and where the women jurors struggle to find any reason not to declare them 'Guilty'. 

The film isn't saying that all men are rapists (at least I don't think it is) but it is a powerful piece of polemic that highlights the struggles women have always had, and still do, in being physically safe, and in fulfilling their potential.  

The ending of the film is relatively hopeful - it seems to say that progress can be made through women creating their own space so as to establish their own identities, and through education, both of girls (obviously) and of boys.

This is a remarkable film which makes me want to see the director's previous outing 'Stories We Tell', which has received excellent reviews.

RATING: ✓✓ Catch It If You Can