Working Woman

Working Woman is a deeply affecting drama set in Tel Aviv and tells the story of Orna (Liron Ben-Shlush), a mother new to the workforce who faces harassment from her boss. In her second feature, director Michal Aviad – known for her female-focused documentary work – presents a very authentic portrayal of events with a great mix of characters. 

In Working Woman, Orna, the films protagonist, is society’s every-woman. She works hard for her position in real estate development. She also works just as hard to sustain a loving and well-kept home for her children and husband. Orna deals with the demands of the other characters in her story, including her floundering husband Ofer whose new business is failing, and her domineering boss Benny whom she struggles to set boundaries for. The two men know only how to take and do so in such a subtly coercive way that it seems Orna has control of it. Eventually Benny’s vile behaviour, which he hides beneath charm and encouragement pushes Orna to breaking point and the narrative spirals into a high-stakes showdown.

As a film, Working Woman is risk averse and straight forward. Its plot moves along seamlessly but rather predictably yet the story remains engaging due to its topical subject matter. With the #MeToo movement opening up the conversation, Working Woman is the latest film to join in the conversation and bring to light the grey areas of workplace assault, and how often more than not, it is overlooked or misunderstood. 

Orna’s story is between the big moments of crime and punishment. We move with her through the often-invisible experiences of realisation, struggle and confrontation that typically only the survivor is privy to. While it might seem like a slow story, the fact is the film provides an insight into the parts ignored by society, such as questions around why doesn’t a victim immediately remove themselves from bad situations and report assault. 

Working Woman is a well-scripted story with authentic character portrayals and an ending that will provide some closure for viewers, but the most important aspect of the film is the conversations it will generate once the credits roll up.

Working Woman
In cinemas Thursday, 10 October 2019
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