Parents' Guide to She Said

This drama is a cinematic earthquake. Audiences will be moved by She Said's powerful storytelling, focused tenacity, and the courage of the women who went on the record to help topple a monster. The movie elicits a physical reaction: Viewers may feel their insides rumble with outrage, frustration, and disgust that a powerful mogul was allegedly able to sexually abuse so many women and that a (nearly) insurmountable system was in place for decades to protect him and other abusers. There's a sense of breaking free as we watch the ground finally rupture under an industry, see more predators get shaken out of the shadows, and welcome substantial change. And there's a bit of instruction here, too: Change only lasts if we continue to demand it.

The drama, made quite soon after the events it covers, creates a record that enlarges the footprint of the news reporting of 2018. This is now a time-travel movie, a visual synopsis that could be revisited decades in the future that will accurately portray the attitudes of the era. That's why it's all the more rewarding to see a film that depicts the modern-day female experience with such reality. With so many years of mostly men behind the camera, much has been missed in depicting how women really interact with each other, how women can relish their work life as much as their family life, how some women may have faith intertwined with their being, and how women often face an extra layer of life to punch through because of the men who see women only as sexual beings. She Said also allows viewers to see how journalists can be heroes through their pursuit of the truth. But it's important to note that the movie doesn't make all men out to be villains -- just this one. When they're provided with the full understanding of what was happening, other men in the story provide aid to the investigation. The title clearly indicates that this story is coming from the female perspective, but it's an essential and fulfilling watch for everyone.