Do nothing. Stay and fight. Or leave. In 2010, the women of an isolated religious community grapple with reconciling a brutal reality with their faith. 

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Sarah Polley (Stories We Tell, Take This Waltz) directs a stunningly beautiful film, inspired by the true story the women of a Mennonite colony of Bolivia who took matters into their own hands, sick of being abused by the men in charge – as explored in the book by Miriam Toews.  

This featurette highlights the thorough care that Polley took to help this story unfold – “with cinematic grandeur and beauty”, as star Frances McDormand describes it. Her delicate touch serves to treat the story with the respect it deserves, exploring the deep personal connections between the women across their shared stories and trauma. 

“There was nothing more important than this conversation amongst women about how they were going to break down the world they lived in and create a new one.” 

Sarah Polley

Women Talking was written by Sarah Polley and Miriam Toews, and stars Academy Award nominee Rooney Mara (Nightmare Alley, Carol), Emmy winner Claire Foy (First Man, The Crown), Academy Award nominee Jessie Buckley (I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Men), four-time Academy Award winner Frances McDormand (Fargo, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Emmy nominee Judith Ivey (The Devil’s Associate, Flags of Our Fathers), and Emmy winner Ben Wishaw (The Lobster, Cloud Atlas).  

Women Talking has also been nominated for – and won – several awards so far this season, including the the Robert Altman Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, and has been nominated for two Golden Globes: Best Original Score – Motino Picture (Hildur Guðnadóttir) and Best Screenplay – Motion Picture (Sarah Polley). 

In a deep exploration of the intersections of faith and gender – and of power and abuse – the cast and crew created a spellbinding, immersive journey through the lives and decisions of the women in their small, secluded community, raising the question: what do you do when you can no longer do nothing? 

Now playing at the Angelika Film Center in New York City, the Tower Theatre by Angelika, Cinema 123 by Angelika.

Opening at the Angelika Mosaic and Angelika Dallas on January 13^th, and the Angelika at Carmel Mountain on January 20^th  – get tickets: https://www.angelikafilmcenter.com/