Movie review
September 25, 2016 · 107 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Certain Women is a 2016 independent drama that follows three loosely connected women in rural Montana as they face everyday frustrations, loneliness, and small personal goals. A lawyer deals with a troubled client, a wife pushes to build a dream home while her marriage frays, and a ranch hand develops an emotional attachment to a law student. The film stays quiet and observational with no visible activist messaging, identity lectures, or political framing in the story, marketing, or execution.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Certain Women.
Woke representation / casting
Natural and appropriate casting for the rural Northwest setting and character backgrounds, including authentic local representation that matches the world of the story with no visible forcing or signaling.
Woke political dialogue
Very sparse dialogue stays personal and relational with almost no ideological language or activist talk.
Identity-driven story themes
Centers women’s quiet struggles and isolation in a traditional rural environment, with one segment showing subtle same-sex longing as part of broader loneliness; the approach stays observational and low-key rather than activist or identity-forward.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Gentle looks at rural life and communication problems, but avoids any modern activist-style attacks on patriarchy, capitalism, gender roles, or Western institutions.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Almost no public debate or complaints framing the film as woke; reception stayed focused on its artistic restraint.
Creator track record context
Key creatives favor understated indie storytelling with occasional subtle social awareness; one producer has a stronger queer cinema background, but the overall production stays observational and non-didactic.
Production
