Jessie Buckley Stars in Sarah Polley’s New Film Women Talking

Jessie Buckley stars in Sarah Polley’s new film Women Talking. After reading Polley’s magnificent script, Buckley was automatically drawn to the female-centric film.

This year, Jessie Buckley starred in an A24 horror film called Men, where her character goes through psychological torment as she encounters strange men in a village. This time, Buckley returns to the big screen in Sarah Polley’s new film, Women Talking. 

The narrative follows eight women isolated in a religious Mennonite in 2010. After realizing the men in their community were abusing and drugging them, they questioned their faith and entire lives. 

Women Talking is based on a novel by Miriam Toews inspired by a horrific real-life situation in Bolivia. In the Manitoba colony, men would drug women and assault them while they were unconscious. It was not until a victim woke up from her dazed state that authorities could identify the abusers from her testimony. 

However, in Toews’ novel, the plot includes a summit meeting in a barn, where the women in the community argue about what they should do. Some debate whether they should stay and demand equality among themselves or leave the gates of their colony. The novel is filled with conversations these people have with each other, perfectly encapsulating the book’s title Women Talking. 

Just finished the book Women Talking by Miriam Toews. I don’t usually discuss my reading here but to occasionally log a completed book, but I found this novel so thoroughly incredible that it feels a lie by omission not to speak of it. Highly recommend.

— Rivers Solomon (@cyborgyndroid) November 30, 2019

At first, Buckley was apprehensive about the film after reading the script. “Like, how in the name of God are you going to make this? Where do you start?” she stated. She comments that the script’s narrative was immense. She claimed, “All the words and just the conversation of it, it was almost too much.”

Despite her reservations, she could not get Sarah Polley’s script out of her head. In the end, the award-winning actress was cast as Mariche, stuck in an abusive relationship with her husband. Mariche believes she cannot escape the life she has led for years, so she resists thinking she could live any other way. When the others imagine a future beyond the gates of their community, she yells “None of you will listen to reason!” Despite the abuse she continuously endures, Mariche is resistant to change.

Best Screenplay Nominee: SARAH POLLEY for WOMEN TALKING #GothamAwards2022 pic.twitter.com/pY68Eae7ML

— The Gotham Film & Media Institute (@weare_thegotham) October 25, 2022

While Buckley’s character can be easy to dislike, The Lost Daughter actress delves into the complexity behind Mariche. Buckley reveals she was fascinated by Mariche because she was difficult to understand. She deciphers the character declaring that “she’s learned to survive for this long in the reality that she’s always understood.” Her abrasive actions and beliefs are the product of her trauma and constricting environment.

Women Talking stars an all-female cast including Irish Singer and actress, Jessie Buckley (Men), who embodies the role of Mariche Loewen. Known for her versatile acting, Frances Louise McDormand (Fargo) will act as the titular character, Scarface Janz. Rooney Mara (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) will be joining the cast as Ona, alongside Claire Foy (The Crown), Judith Ivey (The Devil’s Advocate), and Kate Hallett.

The movie explores how trauma can affect people in different ways through the portrayal of its characters and the difficult conversations they have with one another. Women Talking will be released to theatres nationwide on December 23. Book lovers can purchase Miriam Toews’ novel on Amazon here. To take a glimpse at Jessie Buckley’s emotional performance, watch the trailer down below.