Claire Foy doesn't think 'Women Talking' could have been done before #MeToo

Five years after the #MeToo movement went viral, "Women Talking" has found new talking ground.

The star-studded set stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Frances McDormand, Judith Ivey, and Sheila McCarthy as members of an estranged religious community who are forced to debate next steps after their community is plagued by sexual assault. Based on the novel by Miriam Toews, "Women Talking" is written and directed by Sarah Polley.

"I don't think a movie like this has ever been made before," actress Foy told IndieWire at the film's premiere at the New York Film Festival. “He exists in his own world. It's a fable. It invites a real conversation with an audience. I've never been part of a movie that has such a conversation around it, and the conversation is really interesting."

Emmy winner Foy continued, "It's not in tune with the times. It wasn't made because of a particular moment. This movie couldn't have be made 10 years ago, but that doesn't mean it was only made now because it clings to something. This story is basically as old as time, unfortunately.” Related Related

Foy credited writer-director Polley for having "conviction" and being "so perceptive" about the film's message.

Mara echoed that “Women Talking” inspires “difficult and nuanced” discussions and “asks a lot of questions that I think some people might be afraid to ask.”

Co-star McCarthy explained, "I think a lot of the #MeToo movement is lived by single women, and I think this movie is about women coming together and sharing their stories together, and then can collectively change their lives and move forward. This is the important lesson for everyone: we are not alone. This film is living proof that when you come together and share as a community, change may occur."

McCarthy praised Polley's vision, calling it "a master of direction", "true to history and never compromised".

Polley enlisted sexual assault trauma therapist Dr. Laurie Haskell to be on set at all times, as the film deals with sensitive subject matter that could trigger emotions.

"I think it's great if you're dealing with a subject that can raise a lot of things for a lot of people, like the subject of this movie brings up things from people of all genders on our set, so just to have this container and someone who really knows how to create a safe space for things to happen and be dealt with in a productive way, I think that's a really good idea," Polley said. "So my instinct would be, that It's not a bad idea to have a therapist on set in general. On almost every shoot I've been on, it can certainly be used by the cast and crew at any time. »

Additional reporting by Vincent Perella.

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