TALKING An exploration of violence, forgiveness, and human nature

compelling here is the tragic weight of words so painfully uttered. Dramatically, intellectually, dispassionately, sometimes harrowingly, the verbal fencing and outbursts are always emotionally arresting in expression and nuance. So often, much of the film centers on how the three families wrestle with the demons of repression. At one point, the film foreshadows the course the women ultimately take. A move that, for some, may seem acquiescent and, for others, inevitable.

Indeed, these ‘women talking’ delve deep into the underlying morality of violence, the burden of forgiveness, and the very nature of what it is to be masculine. Arising out of these are perhaps the most important and inescapable truths—the responsibility of men in the colony who have failed to deal with the attackers in their midst. And, of course, beneath this lies the sense of guilt and shame borne by many women who remained mute. It is this death of self, this abandonment of one’s spiritual core that is most visible in the faces of these women. And it is here where the conflict arises as they each come to terms with their ingrained faith, which, in some ways, has tethered them to the very horrors they have endured. Thankfully, Ona has gone beyond the boundaries imposed so unjustly by the colony. She regards leaving as less heretical and more liberating to create a society free of male influence.

The soundtrack amplifies and underscores not so much the words but the feelings one extracts from each argumentative exchange. It moves lyrically from character to scene and back to character, accenting poignant moments. But perhaps, most notably, no more talented cast could have been assigned to this film. With sentiment and acute insight, every emotion, every outburst is displayed with power and bravura. Supporting these fine performances is the poignant lighting and cinematography, which often telegraph each character’s emotions as they moved through scene after devastating scene.

All told, Women Talking strikes a high note in revealing the transformative power of language. Its ability to clarify, to assuage, and to educate. But perhaps most importantly, to heal.