‘They Talk’ Exclusive Realization: Frances McDormand and other women make the decision of their lives

On February 17, ‘Ellas habland’, the third feature film by Sarah Polley, which is the only woman nominated in the categories of best film and best adapted screenplay at the 2023 Oscars. From eCartelera we offer you an exclusive making of where the team explains all the decisions behind the scenes, with contributions from both the technical team and Frances McDormand, who in addition to her role as an actress also produces the film.

The year is 2010 and eight women live in an isolated religious congregation. Far from everything, they have been systematically sexually abused by men in the congregation: it is their neighbors, their uncles, their brothers, who have drugged and raped them for years. The men go to jail, but it won’t be long before they are released. The women have two days before their return. Eager to recover the faith and spirit they suffered, they unite to make a decision: forget, forgive or react?

“We will have to leave the colony if we don’t forgive them”says Scarface Janz, played by McDormand. However, Claire Foy’s character refuses: “We know men attacked us, we know we have to protect our daughters whoever is guilty”. ‘Ellas hablan’ explores the conflict and barriers faced by these women who have to decide between taking justice into their own hands, being abused or leaving the community. Everyone will have a different opinion, in contrast to the views of the others, as well as the fear that all options imply: “Once we are free, we will have to ask ourselves who we are”.

an epic story

“The film image tells a good story”says Frances McDorman from her role in the production. “Everything in this film is exalted, it’s conceptual, and the photography had to be too”says Polley, who worked closely with their cinematographer Luc Montpellier to translate their exact vision to the big screen. “It was very important to me to imagine those landscapes and the canvas on which the story would be told”Polley says. “I was interested in creating a color palette that would feel like a faded postcard from a world that has already disappearedbecause the very fact that they have that conversation indicates that the world they live in belongs to the past”.

To do this, Montpellier reports that he was heavily inspired by the photographic work of Larry Towell, known for his black and white photographs of city dwellers during major conflicts. However, they didn’t opt ​​for black and white shooting. “We realized that having some color would be essential to the story”says the cinematographer. Color also has vital symbolism in the film: “The intense saturation was a metaphor for the decision these women are trying to make”explains producer Dede Garder. “It wasn’t about looking for beauty, but for epic”says McDorman. “It was an epic story that needed that kind of treatment”.

‘Ellas hablan’ will hit theaters on March 17th and its cast includes, in addition to Frances McDormand and Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey and Ben Whishaw.