Disturbing, to discover She said (VF of She Said) by Maria Schrader as Harold LeBel’s trial makes headlines. Disturbing and at the same time, unfortunately, perhaps inevitable: the time has not yet come when violence against women and their denunciations will be combined in the past only.
so come She said. Adaptation of the eponymous book by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, which looks back on the investigation carried out by the two journalists from the New York Times having made it possible to burst the deafening silence and the “system” surrounding, for decades, the actions of producer Harvey Weinstein. The facts, in a few figures: he was found guilty, in March 2020, of sexual assault and rape; he was sentenced to 23 years in prison; about 100 women said he assaulted them.
There was everything, in this sordid affair taking place in the middle of the American cinema, to release the highly prized Hollywood joker that is sensationalism. But the German director Maria Schrader (Unorthodox) and British screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Colette) are just not from Hollywood. They put themselves at the service of the voice of the victims. And it is to words (finally) discovered that they give all the space.
In line with “journalist stories” such as All the President’s Men by Alan J. Pakula and spotlight by Tom McCarthy, She said also allows a snorkeling behind the scenes of these journalistic investigations that shake and change things. In these times when the profession seems as poorly perceived as it is misunderstood, it is enlightening to discover its workings and its importance.
Impeccable distribution
Feminist film by its main theme and by the others, placed in watermark, She said relies on a shock distribution even in its secondary roles (Jennifer Ehle and Samantha Morton as victims, Patricia Clarkson and Andre Braugher as executives of the New York Times, are all astonishingly accurate). Topping the list are Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, who portray investigative reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, respectively.
They are wonderful in their way of bringing to the screen, on behalf of those they embody, strength, complicity, restraint, perseverance, disarray in the face of missteps (because there have been some) and humor (because there is some). In short, they manage to say everything and get everything across, even in long scenes where they are alone… on the phone. And there are many. Too much, some would say.
But, as we said, this biographical drama bets (almost) everything on words. Apart from Ashley Judd, who plays herself here, the actress having been the first who finally agreed to testify “ on the record » ; and Mike Houston who, briefly and from behind, lends his stature to Harvey Weinstein, the known victims (like Rose McGowan) and the aggressors (Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein) are interpreted vocally – and, often, on the phone – by actresses and actors. There are thus those moments of immense modesty (which are no less striking) during which a camera wandering through hotel corridors captures, coming from the other side of closed doors, the words, always the words, of the predator and prey. Tell everything without showing anything.
She Said is a sober, dignified film. A film to be watched with rage in the heart and clenched fists. A heartbreaking film from which we come out torn. And without a word.