Review of Women Talking (2022) by Everett — 10 Jan 2023

If you haven't read the book or read about the premise, you'll be confused for quite some time re: what these women are talking about. This gives the film an airlessness that takes away the potential power of the dialogue and winds up feeling pretentious.

Then, when we finally are given the backstory, we're also finding out that these women who are considering leaving will be leaving behind their own sons and/or other males that they love. The idea that this wouldn't have been a huge problem from the start winds up adding to the sense that this film is ultimately a stagey set-up with a premise that lacks credibility: A vehicle for some excellent performances that just don't feel earned by everything around them.