Sarah Polley’s adaptation of a 2018 novel of the same name was widely expected to have multiple nominees in the Best Supporting Actress category as well as a bevy of nominations elsewhere. The film has a large, almost entirely female ensemble cast that includes Jessie Buckley, Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, and Frances McDormand … all of whom have been singled out by the Globes, the Oscars, the Emmys, and various film festivals and critics groups for their previous work.
“Women Talking” was thought to be a strong contender for Best Picture with a reasonable shot at Best Director. It was named one of AFI’s movies of the year, it was the first runner-up to “The Fabelmans” at the Toronto International Film Festival for the TIFF 2022 People’s Choice Award, it’s appeared on multiple top-10 lists, and it’s done well with other awards bodies so far, such as the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the Gothams, and the Satellite Awards. Polley did receive a nod for Best Screenplay, and Hildur Guðnadóttir was nominated for her work on the score, but the complete lack of acting nominations is a major surprise.
It’s possible that votes were split between cast members. It’s also possible voters didn’t seek it out. After strong festival showings, the film’s release date was unexpectedly pushed back about a month to Dec. 23. Its challenging subject matter — “Women Talking” is about Mennonite women who realize they’re being drugged and sexually assaulted — could have contributed to its poor showing in a year full of well-received, crowd-pleasing blockbusters like “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Elvis,” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” all of which showed up in the Best Motion Picture, Drama category.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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