She Said
This true story brings to light the sexual assault and harassment of women by Harvey Weinstein undertaken by two New York Times reporters, Jodi Cantor and Megan Twohey.
The New York Times newspaper wanted to discover why sexual harassment in the workplace was so pervasive and hard to address. After a tip from a feminist group that actress Rose McGowan had tweeted about being raped by a producer, Jodi decides to investigate after receiving a clue about who it was - Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
The story starts slowly before the two reporters join forces. Jodi commences by calling actors and previous staff employed by his company Miramax in the 90s with little success. She interviews actor Ashley Judd who appears as herself in the film and presents a strong voice against sexism.
Jodi reaches out to Megan struggling with postnatal depression on maternity leave to discuss her difficulty with getting women to talk about their experience due to their fear of repercussions for future work. When Megan returns to work, she is persuaded to join Jodi’s quest, particularly as Megan had investigated Trump on similar claims prior to his presidency with no success. Her role begins by searching for files on sexual harassment complaints of which cases were dismissed or a monetary settlement given, and this moves the investigation into new territory. The tension builds as they try to find testimonies of women willing to go on the record and overcome their fear of Weinstein.
The reporter’s characters shine through, Megan is tenacious and forceful while Jodi intuitive and persistent. Both with a drive and the courage to expose a prominent and powerful individual who had silenced many women. These reporters deliver commanding and engaging performances and through gentle encouragement succeed in winning the trust of these women.
This story ignited the #MeToo movement and has since empowered women to speak up. It is an amazing story, that collectively shows women are stronger together and brings to light how so many women suffer in silence due to fear. This film is so well executed with stunning performances telling the story with intelligence and sensitivity. This film is investigative journalism at its best.
Deborah
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