Women Talking

Knowing very little about the way of life in a Mennonite colony, I was a bit surprised at how suppressed women are kept in order to follow their faith.  The whole community is balancing on a sword of Damocles.   Not every man is a monster, but no one can blame these women for taking the action they need to in order to keep safe, sane, and actually live without fear.  Based on a horrific incident that occurred in a colony in Bolivia, the girls, some as young as 5, and women as old as 65, have been attacked, raped, impregnated, beaten, mutilated and traumatized.  One of the men has been identified and taken to the local jail where he starts naming names of the others, the men; in order to free him, leave the colony to bail him out.  The women are given 24 hours to make a decision regarding what they want to do before they return to the colony and life starts up again.  Since they are unable to read, the only man with any say is August, who has an embattled history with the colony, returning after attending university in the “real” world to teach the boys, as they are the only ones allowed to be schooled.  It’s similar to life in Afghanistan or Iran or anywhere that the Taliban or ISIS is in control, but remember that this happens here, and it’s done in the name of the Lord, fun, huh.  August takes the minutes of their discussion and is trusted to document their dilemma.  The women have three choices, stay as if nothing occurred, stay and fight, or leave the colony and, per their faith, be denied entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.  There are so many strong performances here; it’s difficult, at best, to single anyone out.  Through flashbacks we get to know these women and hope that they will be free at last, free at last, great God all mighty, free at last.  Kudos to the director, Sarah Polley, she gets an A+ for her work.  Rating:  Horror, Heartbreak, and Hope.