“SHE SAID” - A masterpiece of investigative reporting depicts the triggers of #MeToo

Two bestselling books detailing the Weinstein scandal

It may seem a little ironic that Hollywood has taken notice and turned a series of scandals that have exposed Hollywood's dark side into a film, but it could also be seen as an example of the industry's self-reflection and self-cleansing. The film rights to Kantor & Twohey's She Said were acquired jointly by Annapurna Pictures and Plan B, whose founders include Brad Pitt, before the book was even published.

I was surprised by the news that the book was going to be made into a movie, because I assumed that if the Weinstein case was to be made into a movie, it would be Ronan Farrow's " Catch and Kill ." The book is written in the first person by Farrow, who almost loses his job at NBC because of his coverage of the case, and struggles between his sense of duty and self-preservation, before finally deciding to fight through. The part where he feels his life is in danger as he is watched by Weinstein's side is like something out of a spy novel. " Catch and Kill " is such an emotional and exciting story that it makes you think it was intended to be made into a movie from the beginning.

"She Said" (c)Photofest / Getty Images

On the other hand, "SHE SAID" objectively describes the process of the investigation, with Kantor and Twohey, who actually conducted the investigative journalism, trying to limit their own exposure as much as possible. The main focus is on the women who spoke out, and it seems to be more of a third-party report on the Weinstein coverage than a story of courageous reporters. It is also an attempt to analyze the aftermath of the incident from a step back, and this attitude is best expressed in the epilogue-like "Final Chapter."

In January 2019, after the heated reporting on Weinstein had calmed down, Kantor and Twohey asked 12 women who they had met and who had appeared in the articles to talk about the aftermath of the reports. The 12 women came to Los Angeles from the US, the UK, and Germany, and one of the participants, Gwyneth Paltrow, offered her home as a venue.

Their reporting certainly changed the world, but what impact did it have on the lives of the victims who courageously spoke out, and what meaning did it have? In the final chapter, Cantor and Toohey attempt to look at the merits and demerits of journalism through the real-life experiences of 12 women who were involved.

A sincere approach that carefully depicts down-to-earth investigative journalism