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Women Talking (soundtrack)

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Women Talking (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the score album composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir for the 2022 film of the same name, directed by Sarah Polley, based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Miriam Toews. The film stars Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand, who also serves as the producer. Hildur described the score as one of the optimistic music, she composed for a horrific subject which is relevant in the current period, referring to sexual assault against women.[1] Hildur collaborates with Skúli Sverrisson who provides guitar solos.

Women Talking (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Hildur Guðnadóttir
ReleasedDecember 23, 2022
Recorded2022
GenreFilm score
Length26:33
LabelMercury Classics
ProducerHildur Guðnadóttir
Hildur Guðnadóttir chronology
Tár
(2022) 		Women Talking
(2022) 		A Haunting in Venice
(2023)
Singles from Women Talking (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  1. "Speak Up"
    Released: November 4, 2022

The soundtrack was released by Mercury Classics' revamped label for releasing film scores and soundtracks, under the name Mercury Classics Soundtrack & Score. It was for a digitally released on December 23, 2022, coinciding the film's limited theatrical release, followed by a physical CD and vinyl edition release by Target Corporation later that month.[2] The score cue "Speak Up," which served as the basis for the film's trailer music, was released digitally on November 4.[3] The score received critical acclaim, praising Hildur's composition.

Background

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"Women Talking tells a story inspired by true events. While the story is both doomsday and a call to prayer, the music needed to be a vehicle for hope – a way forward from a situation that is unbearably dark. It was a very interesting process for me to go through because I inevitably had to put it in context with the big forward and backwards movements that women have been experiencing. Instead of allowing myself to be paralysed with anger, I felt the way forward was to lean into friendship and connection, as we experience in the film."

— Hildur Guðnadóttir[2]

Hildur was announced as the film's composer in January 2022, who found the subject of the film to be "horrifying and disturbing". During her research, she felt that sexual assault incidents against women, were relevant in the current times, since the film is set before the MeToo movement (which happened in late-2017).[4] But also felt the story is about a community, and how the women come together and move forward those incident. She opined that Polley wanted to "emphasize the beauty of that unity, and because of the nature of the event". She discussed with Polley about the scoring process, as "the role of the music had to be to bring a sense of hope and forward movement to the story".[4]

She collaborated with musician Skúli Sverrisson who played acoustic guitar for the score, where she would interact about the feelings of each women they face, and recording the score. She ended up "bringing into that music was that love of their friendship". He called it as the "most optimistic and hopeful score" she had done for, the most horrific subjects she had come across, and praised Polley's vision for the film, which was "beautiful in that sense" appreciating her contribution.[4]

Track listing

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Women Talking (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
No.TitleLength
1."Work of Ghosts"0:24
2."Speak Up"3:16
3."Doomsday"0:54
4."Not All Men"3:29
5."Pros and Cons"1:20
6."Always"2:43
7."I Saw Him"0:20
8."He's Here"3:30
9."Teeth"0:22
10."Peace of God"2:17
11."Jumping"1:30
12."Boys"2:26
13."Nettie"0:21
14."Leaving"3:41
Total length:26:33

Critical response

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Even before its official release, the score received positive critical acclaim from critics. Manuel São Bento of FirstShowing.net wrote "when the entertainment levels threaten to diminish, Hildur Guðnadóttir's lovely score comes in. Beautiful strings create a pleasant melody, generating an atmospheric environment that passionately accompanies the narrative that is unfolding."[5] Ricky Valero mentioned Hildur's score "is equally parts brilliant as it is haunting".[6] Writing for WhyNow, Maria Lattila mentioned "Hildur Guðnadóttir, who also composed the score for Joker, has created a score that never over-powers Polley’s script but accompanies it and in key moments, amplifies it."[7] Collider's Ross Bonaime had called Hildur's "restrained yet powerful score highlights the impact of what these women are doing, and the new step forward this experience represents for them all."[8] Jericho Tadeo of MovieWeb wrote "Hildur Guðnadóttir's music underscores Women Talking's notions of hope and possibility, which helps elevate the story and empower the women exercising, possibly for the first time in their lives, choice."[9]

Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "Throughout the film, the score by Hildur Guðnadóttir is a deft blend of tradition and a sense of yearning, while the inclusion of the Monkees' "Daydream Believer" enriches a sequence involving a census taker that’s a beautiful pop of the surreal."[10] Praising the music, Peter Howell of Toronto Star also noted the "communal singing of “Nearer My God to Thee” is more the norm".[11] Flickering Myth critic Chris Connor wrote "Oscar-winner Hildur Guðnadóttir's score is at times reminiscent of her sterling string led work on Joker but goes beyond this to hauntingly capture the women’s plight, evolving as it progresses incorporating guitars as well showing the shift in the women’s mindsets as their discussions shift."[12]

Industry response

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Women Talking's critical acclaim from critics as the film festival premiere screenings, increased the possibilities of nominations at major ceremonies, including Hildur's score. The film was Hildur's only chance at a nomination for the Best Original Score category at the 95th Academy Awards[13] until her score for another film, Tár, starring Cate Blanchett, was also considered eligible for the category due to the new criteria rules which were implemented last year.[14] Gold Derby mentioned it as one of "the strong contenders" eligible for the category,[15] though neither film earned an Oscar nomination. Variety also reported that Women Talking's score was predicted to be nominated for the 80th Golden Globe Awards at the Best Original Score, which it eventually was.[16]


Awards and nominations

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At the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival, where the film was screened, its composer Hildur Guðnadóttir received a tribute award for her contributions to film music.[17]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Hollywood Music in Media Awards November 16, 2022 Best Original Score in a Feature Film Hildur Guðnadóttir Nominated [18]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 12, 2022 Best Original Score Hildur Guðnadóttir Nominated [19]
[20]
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association December 18, 2022 Best Score Hildur Guðnadóttir Won [21]
Golden Globe Awards January 10, 2023 Best Original Score Hildur Guðnadóttir Nominated [22]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards January 15, 2023 Best Score Hildur Guðnadóttir Nominated [23]
Satellite Awards February 11, 2023 Best Original Score Hildur Guðnadóttir Nominated [24]
Hollywood Critics Association Creative Arts Awards February 17, 2023 Best Score Hildur Guðnadóttir Nominated [25]

Release history

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Release dates and formats for Women Talking (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various December 23, 2022
Mercury Classics [26]
December 2022

References

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  1. ^ Moya, Sam (17 October 2022). "Women Talking - What We Know So Far". Looper. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Mercury Classics Soundtrack & Score Announce Oscar, Emmy and Grammy-winning Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir's Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for Women Talking". Umusic. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. ^ "'Women Talking' Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "How Hildur Guðnadóttir Became the Key to This Year's Best Movies". Vanity Fair. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  5. ^ "LFF 2022 Review: Sarah Polley's Captivating Film 'Women Talking' | FirstShowing.net". www.firstshowing.net. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  6. ^ "2022 AFI Film Festival: Women Talking movie review". Hidden Remote. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Women Talking review | A moving ode to solidarity between women". whynow. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  8. ^ Bonaime, Ross (17 September 2022). "'Women Talking' Review: Sarah Polley's Captivating Conversation Has One of the Year's Best Casts | TIFF 2022". Collider. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  9. ^ Tadeo, Jericho (14 September 2022). "TIFF 2022 Review: Women Talking is an Expert Film from Sarah Polley". MovieWeb. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  10. ^ Linden, Sheri (3 September 2022). "'Women Talking' Review: Rooney Mara, Claire Foy and Jessie Buckley Lead an Ace Ensemble in Sarah Polley's Potent Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Sarah Polley's 'Women Talking' makes filmgoers ponder the meaning of forgiveness, love, justice and faith". thestar.com. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  12. ^ Connor, Chris (13 October 2022). "Women Talking - 2022 BFI London Film Festival Review". Flickering Myth. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  13. ^ Davis, Clayton (30 September 2022). "Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir Goes for Double Oscar Nominations as Tár Music Is Deemed Eligible (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  14. ^ Desowitz, Bill (12 October 2022). "Oscars 2023: How Will Last Year's Rule Change Impact This Year's Score Race?". IndieWire. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  15. ^ Sheehan, Paul (1 November 2022). "2023 Oscars: Best Original Score Predictions". GoldDerby. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  16. ^ Davis, Clayton (4 November 2022). "2023 Golden Globes Predictions (Film) – Julia Roberts, Harry Styles and 'Don't Worry Darling' Among Buzzy Names and Films In Contention". Variety. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  17. ^ Grobar, Matt (25 August 2022). "'Women Talking' Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir & 'The Swimmers' Filmmaker Sally El Hosaini Set As 2022 TIFF Tribute Award Honorees". Deadline. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  18. ^ Grein, Paul (3 November 2022). "Rihanna, Lady Gaga & More Nominated for 2022 Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  19. ^ Grein, Paul (3 November 2022). "Rihanna, Lady Gaga & More Nominated for 2022 Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  20. ^ "2022 HMMA Nominations". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  21. ^ Neglia, Matt (11 December 2022). "The 2022 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  22. ^ Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (12 December 2022). "Golden Globes 2023: Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  23. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (14 December 2022). "Everything Everywhere All At Once Leads 2023 Critics Choice Awards Film Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  24. ^ Anderson, Erik (8 December 2022). "'Top Gun: Maverick' leads International Press Academy's 27th Satellite Awards nominations". Awards Watch. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  25. ^ Moye, Clarence (8 December 2022). "'Everything, Everywhere,' 'Top Gun' Lead Inaugural HCA Creative Arts Awards Nominations". Awards Daily. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Hildur Gudnadottir - Women Talking (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (LP) (Vinyl)". www.target.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
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