Review of Made in Dagenham (2010) by Tom B — 12 Sep 2011

Well made, very good Brit flick.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this feel good film. It documents how female Ford factory workers (in Dagenham) in the 1960's inspired a country to fight (strike) for the equal pay for women workers. The British cast is charming and likeable and importantly gets you on side for the suffragette like struggle tale.

Sally Hawkins plays Rita O'Grady, a factory worker who leads her female co-workers on a long strike, aiming to get equal pay for women. She is helped by sympathiser Albert (Hoskins) who aids her battle against a flippant management and trade union system. Whilst fighting the men and for equality the women striking suffer resistance and stress from unsupportable husbands and their roles as house-making mothers also suffers. The film acts a great reminder of how the sexes, and country, were so different in the 1960's.

Hawkins is a solid lead, Hoskins is in a great support role and there are excellent cameo performances by Winstone, James and Pike. The film is well cast, well shot and simple locations create a light, easy to watch and enjoyable film, based on historic events. I would also argue that this is not a film just for females, mothers or similar type-casts.