Review of Made in Dagenham (2010) by Glenn G — 09 Nov 2010

This is a lovely and evocative film about the fight for equal pay by a group of female factory workers in late 60s England. Set to a swinging soundtrack and featuring really wonderful performances by Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson and Bob Hoskins, this incredibly neglected true story is able to be funny, moving, and constantly vibrant without feeling like yet another quaint English village film like so many FULL MONTY repeats we've been subjected to over the years.

Credit is due director Nigel Cole for infusing the film with a very alive look and feel, William Ivory's screenplay, which is a tightrope walk between realism and speechifying, Andrew McAlpine's masterful production design (every wallpaper choice is just right and the Ford auto plant is so well-rendered), Louise St. Gernsward's perfect costume design, and Lizzie Georgiu's showstopping hair and makeup. You really feel the characters here and the burgeoning woman's movement. Miranda Richardson could easily have been over-the-top in her showy performance, but is given such wonderful grace note moments to balance it out. I especially loved an almost throwaway 3rd act moment between Hawkins and her when they drop the politics and talk about clothes.

At the screening I attended (with the director and its two stars present), a female audience member summed it up beautifully by telling the panel, "Thank you for making this film. In a time where I feel the woman's movement has moved backwards, this is a reminder that it shouldn't.".

Extra points for casting the great Geraldine James as Hawkins' best friend. It's hard for a LITTLE BRITAIN fan like me to look at her and not think, "Bitty Mommy", but her performance is so earthy and real here, I almost forgot....almost.