Christina Rivera

When I look for stories about women, I am often buried in utterly demoralizing tales of suffering until the very end. If I argue that I want to see something more than that, the response is, "Well that's not realistic, is it?" Of course it's not; the world is full of spirit-breaking evil that shocks us daily. Thus the reason why I want MORE from my fiction. I already know how terrible the real world is. This story gives exactly that. It does not bring action-packed scenes of graphic violence. GOOD. I don't want to see ANY of the action that this movie implies happened. It is horrifying! Instead, the aftermath is shown. Flashes of blood loss, shots showing bruises along thighs and around ankles, a child simply saying "I hurt". That's plenty. At some point, one woman says to another, "You do not need or deserve any more harm." We, as women, do not need or deserve any more "action-packed" scenes of violence inflicted upon us. This film is excellent, from beginning to end. Nearly every kind of woman is represented. Every minute detail, from the cinematography, to the soundscape, down to which character gets to say which lines. I spoiled the ending for myself and still loved it. THIS is what I want from my fiction. Stories by women, for women, about women triumphing. 10/10