She Said Review: A powerful and gripping drama about the Harvey Weinstein investigation

A good journalistic film can be exciting. Take the 2015 Oscar-winning film. headlightor the cornerstone of the 1976 genre All the President’s people: Both are based on true events and involve the unsavory work of investigative journalists, but it’s kind of mesmerizing to watch.

Maria Schroeder she said provides an equally immersive viewing experience. Based on the 2019 book of the same name, it follows future Pulitzer Prize winners Megan Twoy (Carey Mulligan) and Jodie Kantor (Zoe Kazan) as they take action against the scale of abuse against women sparked by the 2017 Harvey Weinstein scandal. to its dirty consequences of threats and bribes.

A film dealing with such timely and explosive news is a risky prospect, but this timely tale relies on a set of clever and often devastating messages revolving around women, power and abuse.

The mechanics of women posting their stories of rape or abuse, and the tendency to ignore them, yell at them, or worse, are key.

Tui and Kantor (played by the two protagonists with impressive understatement) are both painfully and anxiously aware of the possible consequences for their subjects: public humiliation, violation of non-disclosure agreements that could lead to huge legal and financial difficulties, a new trauma in having to be spoken out.

The film’s script isn’t always triumphant—sometimes it feels like some of the monologue about truth, sexism, violence, and journalism is put into the characters’ mouths—but that’s forgiven when their messages are so poignant.

It is hard for a woman viewer not to feel unfair in her exhausting work, painful retribution with the everyday horror of assault. The film is a touching tribute to the heroism of her project: giving voice to those who have been traumatized by Weinstein, and more.