She Said, Maria Schrader's stunning 2022 film is a different kind of horror story. One with which all women might identify. Working, living, and loving in U.S. patriarchal society tends to play the horror of sexual harassment, exploitation, loss of bodily autonomy, fear of rape and murder, and other systemic inequalities on an endless loop. I had heard about this film, and have had the book by the two journalists on my "to be read" pile for quite some time, but I cannot believe I waited so long to see this utterly riveting, powerful film. Also, the terrific Maria Schrader, director of 2021's I'm Your Man, and star of the incredible Deutschland series ('83, '86, '89, streaming on Hulu), directs some gifted actors in this film--Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Samantha Morton, and Jennifer Ehle, to name a few luminaries. Even though we know the ending of this tale, which focuses on the explosive publication of the Pulitzer prize winning news story that took down Harvey Weinstein, I think you'll still be compelled by this film's strong storytelling.
Once Megan signs on to help Jody with the story, the rest of the film consists of the two interviewing woman after woman, trying to get each of them to go on the record about their experience working for or interacting with Weinstein. Just like the journalists, viewers realize how high the stakes are getting, as well as how terrified the victims are, as these experiences become more and more ubiquitous. (Side note: I was lucky enough to be attending the Sitges Film Festival when the news broke, and "the shitty media men" list was circulating as well. I said to a fellow critic at lunch that I didn't know if any of this stuff would make a difference. Little did I know! October 2017 was the beginning of a reckoning that still has legs). Ashley Judd, as one of the only actresses initially willing to put her name and reputation on the line, cameos as herself in the film. Weinstein torpedoed her career when she rejected his grabby hands, and it's amazing to see these events retold within this film.
The thing that some people do not realize, especially people who have never experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault, is that the experience marks you, stains you, changes you. Your place in the world feels tenuous and precarious, your worth questionable. You blame yourself, just as others will assuredly blame you. She Said not only captures the stories of some of these incredibly brave women coming forward, but also examines the ripple effect that sexual assault creates--everyone whom you confide in or love will likely be touched by these experiences. These moments do not just "go away", and justice is seldom achieved. The film keeps ratcheting up the suspense for much of the runtime as repeated women meet with Jody and Megan, but are too afraid to go on record. That's why when women ] start saying they will come forward, viewers cry the same tears Jody does while watching. The film is intense, but not in a bad way.
By the time Weinstein enters the New York office to confront the journalists crafting the story, with women lawyers to boot, I just wanted him to pay already. Of course, he denies everything, and bullies Megan as she meets with them, silently listening to their defense, the camera slowly zooming in on her stoic features. The film emphasizes the team effort it takes to bring this story forward, and the long hours and numerous disappointments that it took to get there. After reviewing it again and again, the editor of The New York Times performatively presses "publish" onscreen. The rest we can easily recall. As just a reminder, in February of 2023, Weinstein would get an additional 16 years added to his 23 year sentence after his trial in Los Angeles.
Thankfully, the film barely shows Weinstein, although his presence looms large. The film's focus is on Twohey and Kantor, two persistent women journalists who broke a huge story, and pushed a snowball that was big when it started, and is HUGE now as it continues to roll over some of these "shitty men" in its path. Yet, for all the complaints about "cancel culture," and the fragility of men now in terms of their so-called victimization, plenty of them are not yet canceled--Mel Gibson, Kevin Spacey, Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Louis CK, among others. She Said stands as a testament to what holding men accountable looks like, and we should keep doing it, especially for those who think of themselves as potential leaders for the United States. The film is a triumph, and is available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription. I'm excited to see what Schrader does next, and this film should have won a ton of awards and accolades. Highly recommended.
