Sarah Pollin's film "Women Talking" made its debut at Yarat art space on July 21 at 7:00 PM. The screening took place on the second floor of the Museum of Azerbaijani Painting of the XX-XXI centuries. The film, directed by Sarah Pollin, focuses on the lives of women and delves into their struggles and experiences. Originally in English, the film was shown with English subtitles.
The story begins with a clandestine meeting of eight Mennonite women in a haystack one evening. These women, along with hundreds of others from a remote colony, have endured two years of drugging and sexual assault at the hands of local men who they believe to be demonic punishers for women's sins. The central question of the film revolves around whether the women should flee or stay and fight against the injustice they have endured. The film heavily employs dialogues, and the women perceive boys over the age of 13 as potential threats.
Interestingly, among the gathered women, there is only one man whose main task is to document the discussions in a notebook since none of the women are literate. Towards the end of the film, the women come together from various parts of the district and leave, with even brave ones taking their older male children with them, regardless of their age.
The film predominantly uses cool colors to represent the suffering and desaturation of women's lives.
Though the audience was initially sparse, all seats were occupied shortly after the film started. The film carried a 13+ age limit due to its heavy psychological content and the inclusion of sensitive scenes.
"Woman Talking" is based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Miriam Toews and has received critical acclaim, being a winner at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards with six nominations, including "Best Film" and "Best Adapted Screenplay." It has also been nominated for "Best Film" at the 75th US Screenwriters Guild and the 95th Oscar awards.
Recently, other film screenings have taken place, including "Under the Sand," presented by the small community called the "Box Society" at Salaam Cinema on the same day at 6:00 PM. After the screening, there was a 30-minute discussion session. However, at the Yarat screening of "Women Talking," there was no time allocated for discussions. Some viewers who attended both films expressed a preference for "Under the Sand." Many more film screenings are expected in the coming weeks.
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