I emerged from an early screening of The Assistant a few weeks ago to the news that a jury had been selected in Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault and rape trial. Coming more than two years after The New York Times and The New Yorker first published their reports of sexual harassment and assault against the famed film producer, the headlines were a stark reminder of how long it can take for a wealthy and well-connected man to face the accusations against him in court — even after a stunning public downfall that helped give rise to the #MeToo movement.
Although it’s not clear exactly when it’s taking place, Kitty Green’s quietly devastating movie returns us to a time before #MeToo and its explosive revelations of sexual abuse rattled the world and the entertainment industry in particular.