Review of Made in Dagenham (2010) by Marc W — 04 Nov 2010

Pleasantly diverting tale of the struggle for equal pay for equal work. Ultimately a bit frothy.

Most of the acting is top notch, particularly Sophie Hawkins in the main role. But in a way it is the focus on Hawkins character, making this a tale of one woman representing ALL women standing up for her rights, that lets the film down. If ever a story merited a full on ensemble script to match the cast and really allow the contours and randomness and divergence of motivations of political action and its consequences then this is it. By focusing on Hawkins as the ring leader and proxy for the other women "the cause", the battle and its significance to those women and Britains changing gender politics is somewhat watered down. As a result the climax comes across as a personal victory rather than a collective one. Can't help but wonder what a Victoria Wood or Willy Russell would have done with it. Found the nostalgic "oh look at quaint 1960's britain with all its anachronistic gender inequality and class conflict - thank goodness its not like that now" knowing style a bit trivialising (the irony of the film is its not as though we live a gender neutral nirvana!) but you can't help but be caught up in the film which is well paced and observed.

The goodies vs badies narrative (union leaders corrupt, union members sexist but basically decent, women all sisters under the skin, men nice but dim) makes the script a little two dimensional. But for all its flaws it works - not quite Brassed Off! - but in the same ball park. Nice to look at, evocative of the period, and a jolly good night out.