Canadian actor/director Sarah Polley nabs Frances McDormand as her lead in ‘Women Talking’

Years ago, Canadian filmmaker Sarah Polley parlayed her incredibly-accomplished acting career (Road to Avonlea, Exotica, Last Night, Go) into an even bigger director’s chair. She was at the helm for the star-studded Take This Waltz (Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Sarah Silverman) and also Away From Her, which garnered her an Academy Award nomination for best adapted screenplay. Now, her accomplishments have caught the eye of Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand, who has just signed on to star in and produce Polley’s latest directorial effort, Women Talking.

Based on the eponymous novel by Canadian novelist Miriam Toews, the story follows the women of an isolated Mennonite commune in Bolivia who share experiences of sexual abuse and assault at the hands of the commune’s men. Frances’ own production company Hear/Say will produce alongside Plan B (Brad Pitt’s company), and the recently relaunched Orion Pictures.

Variety is reporting that both Plan B and Orion announced the news simultaneously on Thursday, which naturally sent social media ablaze with joy over the too-perfect pairing of Polley and McDormand.

McDormand, who previously won two Oscars for both Fargo and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, is still riding high from her performance in Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland, a film creating a lot of Oscar buzz after winning the Audience Award  at TIFF (the Canadian connections are endless!).

Toews’ 2018 novel graced many best-of lists, including The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Washington Post and The New York Times.

We cannot wait for this mega-Canadian film to hit the silver screen!

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