Directed and written by Sarah Polley, Women Talking is a drama that hit French theaters on March 8, 2023. Led by Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, and Frances McDormand, alongside Ben Whishaw, the film is an adaptation of Miriam Toews’ novel Women Talking. It made a splash by winning the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. After its theatrical run, the movie is scheduled to be available on Prime Video starting February 1, 2026.
In 2010, within an isolated religious community living in near self-sufficiency, women begin to uncover the extent of the violence inflicted upon them. Separate from the rest of the group, they gather in a confined space for a limited time to debate a decision that will shape their future. Their discussions, marked by conflicting viewpoints, expose not only the personal traumas but also the dominating power dynamics that allowed these abuses to persist.
The film employs a closed-door setting where dialogue becomes action: convincing, questioning, contradicting, and trying to reconcile faith, safety, and autonomy. At its core, the lingering question remains: stay and fight to change a system that denies them, or leave to protect themselves and break free from the cycle. Without depicting assaults directly, Sarah Polley focuses the story on building a collective response, the weight of silence, and the challenge of reclaiming one’s own future.
Women Talking
While the film has often been compared, in its core concept, to a modern reinterpretation of 12 Angry Men, it sets itself apart through its examination of the very art of argumentation: who has the right to speak, who has been silenced, and under what conditions a community is willing to listen to voices it has long ignored. The director crafts a steadily mounting tension, driven by sharp dialogue and a collective performance that features a predominantly female cast.
The project was sparked by Frances McDormand, who secured the rights to the novel and took an active role in development, notably through her company, Plan B. Miriam Toews, the screenwriter, draws inspiration from a well-documented incident within a Mennonite community in Bolivia—specifically, assaults that occurred between 2005 and 2009, leading to convictions in 2011—yet she transforms this real-life event into a moral and political parable. In terms of production, a significant portion of the film was shot on studio sets to control the movement of the sun, a crucial dramatic element. Director of photography Luc Montpellier combines traditional film techniques with digital tools, utilizing an ultra-wide aspect ratio, while the soundtrack is composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir.
Through its themes and structure, Women Talking appeals to viewers who appreciate storytelling cinema that explores ideas, where tension arises from dialogue, moral dilemmas, and shared experiences. Fans of contemporary dramas focusing on sisterhood, faith, justice, and resilience will find a film that emphasizes the exchange of perspectives over straightforward storytelling, offering a thoughtful and engaging reflection on pressing social issues.
Our Take on Women Talking
It was the underdog of the selection, yet Women Talking snagged the prestigious Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. And honestly, it’s no surprise—we loved Sarah Polley’s film (the creator of the series Captives), which quickly became one of our 2023 favorites.
In Women Talking, the filmmaker offers a true story: the plight of women from a deeply religious community living in seclusion deep within the United States. Their way of life is so antiquated that it seemed to us like a 19th-century setting—until we realized we're actually in 2010. The shock only deepens when we discover this is based on real events—the story of dozens of women, all sexually assaulted by the men of the colony, who must decide their futures within this oppressive environment.
It plays out as a feminist, much more contemporary, version of the classic Sydney Lumet film, 12 Angry Men. Here, a group of the community’s most influential women gather to discuss, argue, and try to convince each other. The core dilemma is tough: stay and fight, or flee to prevent this from happening again. The subsequent unfolding is truly gripping.
From the very first moments, it’s clear that what we’re witnessing is highly disturbing. The film’s muted, nearly monochrome cinematography reflects the bleak lives of these women, with harrowing scenes of suffering opening the story. Inside this nearly sect-like colony, men hold all the power, while women are considered insignificant. Their need to revolt becomes painfully obvious when an assault occurs. One woman asks the only man who understands them, “How would you feel if your opinion never counted?” And for once, their voices matter, as they fight to have their say.
This is where the film becomes truly impressive. The women’s conversations are executed with remarkable insight and relentless honesty. Their perspectives, at times starkly contrasting, are often brutal, extreme, difficult—yet they perfectly reflect their suffering. All of this is brought to life by an outstanding cast: Rooney Mara (Nightmare Alley), Claire Foy (The Crown), and Jessie Buckley (Men), along with Frances McDormand (Nomadland). Polley has surrounded herself with some of Hollywood’s top actresses today.
As a result, Women Talking is a superb film that will stick with audiences and surely spark many debates—its themes are painfully relevant. An Oscar win could shine a spotlight on this challenging story. A static film, where the heart of the narrative is dialogue, might struggle to achieve widespread success—so we strongly encourage you to support films like this, which are as necessary as they are magnificent.
Women Talking
Film | 2022
Release in theaters: March 8, 2023
Available on Prime Video from February 1, 2026
Drama | Runtime: 1h44
Directed by Sarah Polley | Starring Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand, Ben Whishaw
Original title: Women Talking
Country: United States
Blending elements of a closed-door drama, community storytelling, and a meditation on self-determination, Sarah Polley's film presents a collective decision-making process led entirely by women, without sensationalizing the violence it depicts. Its release on Prime Video puts a spotlight back on a critically acclaimed work, recognized for its adaptation and centered on a crucial question: how to find your voice again after it has been silenced.
For more options, check out our selection of February's new releases on Prime Video, our guide to streaming premieres across all platforms, and today's top picks What to watch today in streaming.
