Women Talking Is New Oscar-Nominated Film That Explores Sexual Abuse Within Religious Colony

Women Talking is the next movie that should be on your radar. The emotionally powerful and hard-hitting drama film is directed by acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Sarah Polley and recently scooped two coveted Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, thanks to its story based on the real-life events that occurred at a remote and isolated Mennonite community in Bolivia called the Manitoba Colony.

So, alongside a jaw-droppingly impressive female cast, what else should you know about this movie, which is soon to hit UK cinemas, that covers topics such as religion and sexual abuse?

First, it is based on an adapted screenplay from Miriam Toews’ 2018 novel of the same name, in which the author detailed her experience as “an imagined response to real events” in the remote community. The book garnered critical acclaim, and it was inevitable that Hollywood would quickly come calling for it to be made into a movie.

So, to find out more about Women Talking, keep scrolling:

What is the plot of Women Talking?

A group of women in an isolated religious colony attempt to reconcile their reality with their faith as they reveal a shocking secret about the colony’s men secretly drugging and raping them in their sleep from 2005 to 2009. Do they do nothing, or do they fight back?

The official synopsis reads: “The women of an isolated religious community grapple with reconciling their reality with their faith. Though the backstory, we see a community of women come together to figure out how they might move forward together to build a better world for themselves and their children. Stay and fight or leave. They will not do nothing.”

Who stars in Women Talking?

The line-up is impressive and includes some of the best working stars in Hollywood today, including Claire Foy, Frances McDormand, Jessie Buckley, Rooney Mara, August Winter, Ben Whishaw, Judith Ivey, Kate Hallett, Kira Guloien, Liv McNeil, Michelle McLeod, Rooney Mara, Shayla Brown, and Sheila McCarthy.

What are critics saying about Women Talking?

The movie was met with enormous praise followings its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival last September, with Empire stating: “A remarkable ensemble of performers unite for this combustible, timely chamber-piece that hails the return of Polley as an ambitious and empirical filmmaker.” The Scotsman adds: “Despite the harrowing subject matter and single location, the film is propulsive and moving and never feels stagey.” Detroit News adds: The subject matter is powerful, but despite a number of fine performances, Women Talking is never quite able to find its voice.”