WOMEN TALKING RECOUNTS SEXUAL ABUSE IN BOLIVIA
Mennonite “colonies” exist in Canada, the United States, and Bolivia. Women perform household chores and are not allowed educational opportunities. Such asymmetry evidently provokes the view of some men that they are superior, while women are mere objects. Between 2009–2009, about 150 women were raped, ages 5 to 65. Soon after the latest episode is reported to Bolivian authorities, men go to court, leaving the women with the choices of staying calmly, staying and fighting, or departing from the colony to parts unknown. Women Talking, directed by Sarah Polley, focuses on a debate among the women on which of the three options to choose. Early in the debate, at least one woman decides to stay, fearing that otherwise she will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Several women are determined to leave. The debate continues because most are undecided. To find out how the debate is resolved, filmviewers must endure the debate, which occurs in black-and-white cinematography for most of the film, which is based on facts reported in the 2018 novel Women Talking. (Film titles do not report 8 men are eventually sentenced to 25 years in prison.) The Political Film Society has nominated Women Talking as best film exposé of 2023 and best film on human rights of 2023. MH