ACCEPTANCE SPEECH: WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY) - WOMEN TALKING
By Oscars® and Academy Awards® and Olivia Marshall
First Published: 17/03/2023
Location: LA
"WOMEN TALKING"
Screenplay by Sarah Polley
SARAH POLLEY: Thank you. Um, first of all, I just want to thank the Academy for not being mortally offended by the words women and talking so close together like that. Cheers. Miriam Toews wrote an essential novel about a radical act of democracy in which people who don't agree on every single issue manage to sit together in a room and carve out a way forward together free of violence. They do so not just by talking but also by listening. The last line of our film is delivered by a young woman to a new baby, and she says, "Your story will be different from ours." It's a promise, a commitment, and an anchor. And it is what I would like to say with all of my might to my three incredible kids, Eve, Isla, and Amy as they make their way through this complicated, beautiful world. Thank you to the best man I've ever known, David Sandomierski for giving me the optimism to believe we can and will do better. Dede Gardner and Frances McDormand, thank you for letting me stand on your shoulders and making space for me. We have the most incredible cast and the most incredible crew. Some of whom are here tonight. Please, stand up if you're there or in the nosebleeds, and everybody at home who worked on this film, I accept this on all of our behalfs. Thank you. Thank you. Wow!