Because I’ve had quite a number of new subscribers these past couple of weeks, I wanted to repost my earlier writing on Women Talking on Mary Gaitskill’s Substack, “Women Talking: A Mennonite Woman Speaks Out” in response to her earlier writing: “Women Talking: the unspeakable indeed
Do you know about the seemingly overlooked foundation for the book? Here’s a link. We did see the movie. Under the presented circumstances, flight seemed the only sane option to me, and the later facts about the continued rapes after the initial convictions and imprisonments demonstrate that. Nature vs. nurture? Look forward to more fully understanding your thoughts. https://time.com/6250526/women-talking-mennonite-bolivia-real-story/
I have been to the Manitoba Colony area in Bolivia twice and shot many pictures and videos. I am from the same lineage as the people in these colonies and I have a decent grasp of the Low German language.
You note that “the culture portrayed is so specific. By specific I mean: discussions of pacifism and other tenets of Mennonite faith; foot washing;… the hymns the women sing or that are heard in the soundtrack…” These are all examples of cultural specifics, yes, but not of the culture of Old Colony Mennonites. What is portrayed in the movie/book is visually Old Colony Mennonite, but the dialogue and many of the cultural specifics are decidedly modern liberal Mennonite.
Thanks for your reflection on Women Talking, the film and the book. I am interested in the choice of the narrator. While I understand the importance of a male voice in this story, I believe telling the story from the point of view of o young survivor is both powerful and hopeful.
Do you know about the seemingly overlooked foundation for the book? Here’s a link. We did see the movie. Under the presented circumstances, flight seemed the only sane option to me, and the later facts about the continued rapes after the initial convictions and imprisonments demonstrate that. Nature vs. nurture? Look forward to more fully understanding your thoughts. https://time.com/6250526/women-talking-mennonite-bolivia-real-story/
Hello, Mennonite friend!
I have been to the Manitoba Colony area in Bolivia twice and shot many pictures and videos. I am from the same lineage as the people in these colonies and I have a decent grasp of the Low German language.
I am writing a multi-part series on Women Talking on my SStack based on my personal history, experience, and direct connections to these Bolivian colonies. I hope it’s ok to post a link here. https://michaelkrahn.substack.com/p/women-talking-a-missed-opportunity
You note that “the culture portrayed is so specific. By specific I mean: discussions of pacifism and other tenets of Mennonite faith; foot washing;… the hymns the women sing or that are heard in the soundtrack…” These are all examples of cultural specifics, yes, but not of the culture of Old Colony Mennonites. What is portrayed in the movie/book is visually Old Colony Mennonite, but the dialogue and many of the cultural specifics are decidedly modern liberal Mennonite.
I’ll be exploring all of this in my series.
Thanks for your reflection on Women Talking, the film and the book. I am interested in the choice of the narrator. While I understand the importance of a male voice in this story, I believe telling the story from the point of view of o young survivor is both powerful and hopeful.