Film: Women Talking

Tonight, settled on film again - and what was coming up looked really interesting. Continuing on a women's theme, Women Talking is, apparently, based on real-life events in a Mennonite community, where women were being drugged, and sexually assaulted as they slept. Some ended up injured, some pregnant, some with STDs. The film is based on a book, imagining the women's response - in a community that doesn't even teach its women to read and write, the women mobilise to form a response to a group of uncaring elders, whose dictat is that they must forgive their attackers, or forfeit their place in heaven. Stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand - against type, as has been mentioned - as an older woman who does not support the younger women's rebellion against staying quiet. Also nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture, as well as Best Adapted Screenplay. Closest showing to me is in the Everyman King's Cross.

Arriving, I saw no-one at the desk - a fellow shouted from upstairs to come up there for tickets! So I did. Poor them - they can't be used to us paying in person, their machines couldn't handle it! Three of them, and three different machines, later, we got the transaction processed - the ticket on one device, the drink on another. And then, I couldn't take the drink in with me - no, it had to be delivered! 10 minutes later. I see someone ordered food - frankly, after my last experience with hot food in a cinema, I'm not in a hurry to repeat it. Not to mention, at these ticket prices, I figured I'd given them quite enough money already.. Well, they had comfy seats anyway: low-tech armchairs with cushions, not a recliner in sight.

It's so odd, seeing all these famous people dressed more or less the same. Claire Foy plays the angry one, Jessie Buckley the one married to an abusive husband (no comment from the elders on that either, of course). Rooney Mara is radiant as the almost beatific one, ready to live the principles of her faith in their truest sense. Ben Whishaw is delegated to take minutes of the women's meetings, as they choose between a number of options: stay and do as they're told, stay and fight, or leave..

It's such a beautifully shot film. The backing music underlines the peacefulness of the place, and they have glorious sunsets. Wisely, the story mostly sidesteps the actual events that gave rise to all this - they'd be too emotive. We are told, and get flashbacks - but the meat of the film is in the women's discussions about what to do next, as the vote was tied. And, as per the title, there's a lot of talking - I wondered at illiterate women being so eloquent, until I realised they were copying the language of their bibles. So, we get much philosophical back and forth, Ben's character acting as a conduit for the "other" (male) point of view.

But don't make the mistake of thinking that this is just a thought experiment - it does become extremely emotional, and the whole course of the film is charged with urgency, as the accused men are due to be bailed soon, and their decision must be made by then. As the finality of their final decision dawns on them, as on us, it's a heartbreaking conclusion. This is a powerful film, and should be required viewing for anything to do with women's studies. Go see.

Afterwards, to the welcoming surrounds of O'Neill's - terrific to be able to get a seat there again!

Tomorrow, back with London Classical Music and Theatre Group, for an English Concert of Bach, at Wigmore Hall. Lovely, it's ages since I heard Bach..

On Wednesday, it's film again - this one is a BFI presentation of Joyland, an Indian film about a young man who joins a burlesque show, and becomes infatuated with the trans lady who runs it. I'm normally suspicious about Indian film, having had some bad experiences - but this trailer looks excellent, so I'll risk it. Showing in the Vue Islington - which I've booked, for once, as they now have theatre-style seat pricing, different seats in different locations at different prices!

On Thursday, back with TAC for Feel More X Lately, showing at the Lion and Unicorn.

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend. Where the choice of films is - as of now, anyway - very limited. Mostly kids' films, in fact. Best for me seems to be What's Love Got to Do with It?, a romcom in which Emma Thompson plays the mother of a young lady whose good friend (of Pakistani heritage) decides enough is enough, and he's going to let his parents arrange his marriage. She's a budding filmmaker, and decides this would provide excellent footage for a new documentary. No prizes for how it turns out, I suspect - but it seems harmless enough.

There follows a mostly Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) week. Next Monday, back with them for Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, at the Harold Pinter Theatre. This is a rom-com about a couple living in a dystopian state, which limits the number of characters they can speak. Lots of body language then, I guess! Frankly, I was delighted to see that, by the time I booked, the Balcony was sold out - the legroom there is woeful, and good luck to those who've booked up there. The cheapest price bracket left when I booked included some in the Dress Circle - and thanks to Seatplan, I seem to have identified a decent seat among them. Watch this space.. cheapest tickets from the official site, but I booked with From the Box Office, which had tickets at the same price, but without the booking fee.

On the 28th, my one non-UITCS day that week - back with Over 40 Living the Life, for a dinner at Greenwich Yacht Club. Ooh la la..

On the 1st, back with UITCS at the Arcola for Afghanistan is Not Funny, the true story of a British comedian and photographer in war-torn Afghanistan.

On the 2nd, with them again at the Peacock (think I can walk to that!) for Bat Out of Hell, a musical based on the music of Meat Loaf. Awesome - just a pity it isn't one of the singalong nights..

On the 3rd, ending a run of UITCS with Lucrezia Borgia, by the English Touring Opera Company, at the Hackney Empire.

On the 4th, back cat-herding - Ivan suggested that whole day for, well, a lot of drinking. And food - he wanted to go back to O' Neill's. Well, he must have been reading the blog - because the other day, he got in touch. To say that, unfortunately, he can't now make it. My other coworker from that company still can, though - as they've both said, it's been so long since they actually met each other! They can never seem to coordinate..

On the 5th, back with Discover London at last - she does excellent walks, but sometimes they clash, and sometimes they sell out before I get to them! This one is Discover Historic Chelsea: From Quaint to Quant - 1660s to 1960s.

On the 6th, back with - you guessed it - UITCS, for Romeo and Julie, at the Dorfman.

On the 7th - not so much appeals on Meetup. Free Stuff and Free Events does have Free Community Singing with Ros Hone and the Global Fusion Sound Singers, which you can attend on Zoom, or in person at Fossdene School Community Hall. Which sounds just fine - except that this is the sort of thing I keep cancelling! So I'm not confirming until nearer the time.

On the 8th - back with the Crick Crack Club, woohoo! for Goddesses in the Garden, at the Chelsea Physic Garden. Features my favourite, Clare Murphy, along with Sarah Liisa Wilkinson, Laura Sampson, and Xanthe Gresham.

On the 9th, my final booking - for now - with UITCS, for Brilliant Jerks at Southwark Playhouse. And wouldn't you know it, I still had credit on my Pay as you Go subscription, so got it for free! And then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.