Tags
2010's, Anne-Marie Duff, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Carey Mulligan, Drama, Helena Bonham Carter, Meryl Streep, Sarah Gavron, Suffragette
To celebrate 100 years of women getting the right to the vote in the UK, I decided to review the drama Suffragette.
Film Title
Suffragette
Director
Sarah Gavron
Starring
- Carey Mulligan as Maud Watts
- Helena Bonham Carter as Edith Ellyn
- Anne-Marie Duff as Violet Miller
- Brendan Gleeson as Steed
- Ben Whishaw as Sonny Watts
- Meryl Streep as Emmeline Pankhurst
A deftly done movie that blends fiction and truth, Suffragette charts the rise of the foot soldiers in the fight for women to receive the vote. Well acted and personal, it’s a movie that really strikes to the heart of the cause and what it meant for future generations.
The story begins in 1912, London. Women have for some time peacefully campaigned for the right to vote but their voices have gone unheard. We meet a working class laundress named Maud Watts. She’s had a tough life of abuse and turmoil from men , though she has some comfort at home with her husband Sonny and son George. One day, she is caught up in a demonstration by suffragettes who break all the windows in the West End. Although she doesn’t know it yet, this event and further ones will have a big impact on her. For more demonstrations and talk of women getting the vote takes place, also featuring brutality from the police and the authorities. Having been so downtrodden in her life, Maud gradually aligns herself with the local firebrand Edith Ellyn. After hearing a speech by Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, Maud is now fully involved with the cause. This in turn earns the scorn of those closest to her and her husband refuses to let her see their son, but these sacrifices stiffen Maud’s spine and further her desire to fight for the vote. For Maud and the women she marches with are determined to gain equality, no matter what the cost.
There’s a real urgency and immediacy to the direction of Sarah Gavron. She excellently showcases the shared strength of women and employs a camera that always seems to be moving. It captures the whirl of events and the gathering storm of demonstrations that the suffragettes take part in, from smashing windows to hunger strikes and blowing up postboxes. Abi Morgan’s script finely dramatizes the struggles of women at the time and how through actions, they were gearing up to have the same rights as men. The main story is fact-based here and is inspiring as well as important in what it depicts. Suffragette features fictional characters interspersed with real life figures in the movement, such as Emmeline Pankhurst and. The biggest message of Suffragette is how far these brave women were willing to go in order to get the vote and eventually equality. These were women from all walks of life who were united by a common goal and were prepared to go the extra mile to have their voices heard. What they went through was extraordinary and often brutal. We see women beaten, humiliated, force-fed and in the course of Suffragette. It’s not easy to watch, but that’s the idea. Women fighting for the right to vote went through a lot and this movie is a testament to them. This is an important story that needs to be told and in this very way. Alexandre Desplat is the person providing the building score that gains in momentum as events take flight and the fight begins to increase in steam and volume.
Carey Mulligan is the lead in Suffragette and boy does she deliver. She has this ability to be totally unaffected and filled with conviction without resorting to histrionics. Her face, that speaks so many volumes, is a marvel at depicting Maud’s shift from bystander to fighter and makes us feel every beat. Helena Bonham Carter shines as a leading member of the group and one of experience, while Anne-Marie Duff is fine as the forceful and agitator of the suffragettes. Then we have Brendan Gleeson as a police inspector caught in between sympathizing with the women and enforcing the law. Ben Whishaw, finding some depth and unpredictability than some parts he is given, displays both a caring attitude to his wife and then a deep coldness when he feels she has shamed him. It’s something I’m not used to seeing by Whishaw, but damn if he doesn’t do it well. Though I expected to see more of Meryl Streep as Emmeline Pankhurst, her cameo is satisfying and provides a rallying cry to Maud and a whole host of women.
An unflinching and inspiring movie that never sugar coats the brutality and resistance that was met by women campaigning for the right to vote, Suffragette has much to recommend in its reels.
beetleypete said:
Did you watch this on C4 last night, V? I did too!
I was going to review it later myself. 🙂 I came to much the same conclusion as you, and the casting was just right. (Though Streep was wasted as Pankhurst, anyone would have done really)
Best wishes, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
Yes, I did watch it on Channel 4 last night. I had been meaning to watch it for a while. I reckon your review would be great, Pete.
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anjalisk96 said:
Wow. That is one really good review. I heard about your blog through Raistlin and he was right! I write reviews too but in a slightly different approach maybe. Your reviews are indeed a pleasure to read! I have made sure to follow your blog to read more!
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vinnieh said:
Why thank you for your praise. I have followed your blog and promise to read and comment. Raistlin is a great blogger and I highly value his content and friendship.
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LFBooks said:
Really need to check this out, thanks for the review 🙂
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vinnieh said:
It’s a movie that is well worth your time. It showcases the collective strength of women and their unity.
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vikramhereblog said:
Great review
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vinnieh said:
Cheers for your nice words.
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fragglerocking said:
Will get to see this, your review is fab as always.
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vinnieh said:
Oh I recommend it highly, Fraggle. Just watching the bravery of these women is enough to warrant viewing.
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maddylovesherclassicfilms said:
Sounds good. I haven’t seen this yet but am looking forward to it. The courage of these women and what they went through is inspirational. Women today owe so much to these women.
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vinnieh said:
Yes, they went through so much fighting for what they believed in. They are truly inspiring women.
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raistlin0903 said:
Another film that I really need to check out very soon 😊 And it’s crazy isn’t it? How narrowminded people have once been. Although I guess it’s not completely a thing of the past though. I am glad though there have been such inspiring people that have luckily managed to change things.
Fantastic review Vinnieh! Ps: your requested review is up on my blog 😊
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vinnieh said:
It is crazy that people back then thought one gender was higher than the other. Thankfully there were these inspiring women who took big strides in order to get women the vote. I’m checking out that review now.
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vinnieh said:
I’ve commented on your The Haunting review. That was a mightily impressive take on it.
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Keith said:
Nice review. I remember liking this one but can’t remember what score I gave it. Milligan is always good though.
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vinnieh said:
Mulligan is a consummate performer, she always delivers. And it always seems to come straight from the heart.
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Cindy Bruchman said:
Very nice review, Vinnieh. I haven’t seen it, but will get to renting it soon.
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vinnieh said:
I think you’d appreciate this movie. It really displays just how far these women were willing to go for equality.
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A Year Ago Today said:
Can you or your followers help?
read my last post to stop this!
Hi., My name is Barry.
I’m a big reader of self help and personal development books. I’ve read and listened to loads now with out putting action in to the words I read/listen too
I decided in January 2017 to start recording my journey and see what I could learn from setting my own goals targets and really pushing myself. I decided it was important to wait a year before publishing any post and my dairies. Well this is where I am now!
It’s been a rocky trip and I talk about my battles with alcohol, drugs, anxiety, depression, work and feeling alone! Its not all bad and I have many highs too but ultimately I’m sticking to a commitment I made myself a year ago. A project for change to help me and others.
A Year Ago Today
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vinnieh said:
Yes, I will follow your blog. Will be over soon.
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abbiosbiston said:
I hate to say this but for me there was something missing from Suffragette that I can’t quite put my finger on… something cold and clinical that distances the viewer from the happenings in a way that removes impact.
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vinnieh said:
I see. You’re not the first person I know who has said something along similar lines.
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Jay@cinemaessentials said:
I haven’t seen this yet, but does the film make it clear that millions of men didn’t have the vote either?
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vinnieh said:
It does reference that in some areas but the main focus is women.
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