in a room full of women who have been brutally and systemically mistreated, the most viscerally emotional reaction is that of a man. a man who has been rendered helpless to fight the oppression he witnesses, forced to bear the weight of his own guilt amongst the victims that must forge their own futures. the women are also emotional, of course, but they are practical, devout, and above all, able to use their autonomy to mobilize. it’s fantastical, perhaps, but sarah polley delicately crafts it in a way that makes it feel strikingly possible. she’s given these women a chance to simply harness the power they already had. never really pitting them against each other and not letting their faith be the enemy, polley is understanding and empathic in her depiction and it’s wholly felt and appreciated. <3