SUFFRAGETTE
STARTS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18 at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson
“Inspired by true events, Suffragette movingly explores the passion and heartbreak of those who risked all they had for women’s right to vote—their jobs, their homes, their children and even their lives.
Carey Mulligan (An Education), Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech), and three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady), lead the stellar cast of this powerful drama about the fight for equality in early-20th-century Britain. The stirring story centers on Maud (Mulligan), a working wife and mother who becomes an activist for the Suffragette cause alongside women from all walks of life. Written by Abi Morgan (Shame) and directed by Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane), Suffragette is an inspiring and gripping look at the brave women of history who paved the way for the activists of today. (Dir. by Sarah Gavron, 2015, UK, 106 mins., Rated PG-13)”
Carolyn’s note: I feel sad and mad when I hear women saying that there is no need to vote, or register to vote as their vote is meaningless. These women need to see this film and take their daughters too. “We’ve come a long way, baby” but not all of it is positive in the 21st Century.
Finally saw this powerful, inspiring movie at the Loft — still playing for at least another week. London, 1912 (over a century ago) was certainly not a great place for women, esp. poor ones, and the movie makes the point about women’s inequality in employment, marriage & divorce, child custody, voting. The suffering of these early suffragettes is truly admirable and reminded me of the inequality for women back then in 1910. Personally I know this story as my immigrant Japanese grandmother was raped by a white plantation doctor in rural Hawaii. She had no rights back then and could not seek justice for her newborn baby boy. See this movie to appreciate what we women have today in 2016 America. They mention at the end that Saudi Arabian women are only now getting the right to vote (but can they drive cars?).
There is a linear relationship between income and voting prevalence. The wealthier you are the more you think your vote counts. The opposite is true of the poor.
Americans are woefully blasé about their right to vote.
Yes, Americans take their right to vote for granted, which is also why lots of people don’t register to vote at all. Interestingly enough, recent stats in America state that slightly more women vote than men: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/catherine-rampell-why-women-are-far-more-likely-to-vote-then-men/2014/07/17/b4658192-0de8-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html
I agree with your review and comment. I was stunned by the brutality women endured in the workplace, home and movement to gain women’s right to vote. Carey and Helen totally own the movie with secondary roles to other actresses. I guess they needed Meryl to build the PR, and, yes, she’s good but in a fleeting role.
Actually I have yet to see this British movie and I know American women faced similar brutality when they tried to win the right to vote before 1920. Amazing now what we all take for granted, and don’t even bother to vote.