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We Want Sex (Equality)

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (10)

Made_in_Dagenham_01-535x355.jpg

During a time when our gay and lesbian friends and family are fighting against discrimination and for their most basic rights, it seems quite appropriate to revisit a story of a group of women standing up for workplace equality. Sometimes we can use a reminder of past accomplishments to spur on new ones.

In 1968, a group of 187 women workers went on strike at the Ford Motor Company Limited’s Dagenham assembly plant to protest their skill grading and inferior pay. Their efforts eventually led to the UK passing the Equal Pay Act 1970, which forbade pay or conditions of employment differences between men and women. Made in Dagenham is the dramatization of the strike, brought about by producers Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen (The Crying Game) after Woolley heard a radio interview which had reunited the strikers 40 years later. Struck by their camaraderie and humor, Woolley was inspired to make this film which stars Sally Hawkins (Never Let Me Go, An Education) as Rita O’Grady who emerges as the group leader. Here is the trailer which has that feel-good-movie-of-the-year thing going:


Made in Dagenham is directed by Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls) and boasts a supporting cast that includes Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire/Deathly Hallows), Bob Hoskins (Hollywoodland), Rosamund Pike (Pride & Prejudice, An Education. The film has already won several awards at the Dinard British Film Festival and is slated for a mid-November release. I don’t know about you, but I’ll probably secretly sneak out under cover of darkness, shed my crusty exterior and let an emotional tear or two dribble down my cheek.









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Comments

Will somebody please clue me in on the appeal of Sally Hawkins? I've never read a bad review of her work and yet she seems to think acting consists of constantly leaving her mouth hanging open, sticking her face as close as possible to whomever she's in a scene with and over-exaggerating every emotion. I've hated her in everything.

Posted by: PaddyDog at October 22, 2010 9:35 AM

Meh. I'm holding out for the feel-good heartwarmth of Los 33.

Posted by: Craig at October 22, 2010 9:38 AM

Why, why, WHY isn't Miranda Richardson having a Streepesque career? I just don't get it.

Posted by: My Name Is for My Friends at October 22, 2010 9:41 AM

Ya!

Posted by: My Name Is for My Friends at October 22, 2010 10:05 AM

i try to remain open minded, but I have to admit i have moments of uncontrollable fear when I see a feminist type woman approaching. I know, it's bigoted, but it's reality.

Posted by: idleprimate at October 22, 2010 10:25 AM

on a more serious note, i love how no one ever talks about how easily the corporate system swallowed up the added earnings of women in the work force. families never really got to double their incomes, instead everything cost twice as much, and things that were part of the home economy were commercialized. So families had to work twice as hard to buy things, and things they used to do at home now had to be purchased increasing the burden on the cash supply of the family. Lucky for business types, the framework is still men versus women, and not people versus the economy.

family = 0
business = 1

Posted by: idleprimate at October 22, 2010 10:29 AM

This seriously gave me goosbumps. Can't wait to see it.

Posted by: grace b at October 22, 2010 10:31 AM

I saw this at the Vancouver Film Festival...here was my review:


This is the fee-goodiest feel-good movie that ever felt good. The crowd literally burst into applause at five different times throughout the movie. That’s when you know your audience is really engaged (and to clarify – no one who was a part of the movie was in the audience).

Made in Dagenham follows the exploits of 187 female Ford factory workers in Dagenham, England when they decide to be the first group of women to ever go on strike. Their initial concern is that they have been classified as unskilled labour when in fact their jobs require more skill than some of the male jobs at the factory. Eventually it grows into the first outburst of equal pay for equal work ever seen in England.

Sally Hawkins does a wonderful job as Rita, the unexpected leader of the women workers. Instead of the fire and anger that Sally Field used in her role in Norma Rae, Hawkins uses a calm intelligence and charm. It’s impossible not to want to be on her side.

There are challenges and consequences to their actions, but this movie doesn’t dig too deep into any of them. I was concerned early on because the movie created such a wonderful atmosphere that I knew it was going to be challenging to regain it once the inevitable conflicts set in. Fortunately this movie kept its focus mostly on the positives and less about how countless families were going hungry because of her actions.

This movie, if marketed correctly, could be the next big British hit like The Full Monty or Billy Elliot. If and when it opens wide, this is one you should definitely seek out. 90%.

Posted by: Jason Cormier at October 22, 2010 11:03 AM

Or I could possibly not go see it, and have money for 3 Happy Meals. That's 3!

Posted by: grumpiestoldman at October 22, 2010 4:28 PM

i try to remain open minded, but I have to admit i have moments of uncontrollable fear when I see a feminist type woman approaching.

Oh, c'mon. They're not really feminist type women in THIS film. In spite of heavy advertising Made in Dagenham hasn't become a hit in Britain; and it is not a great movie by any measure, but it passes as light entertainment. Give Cole a break. He made Calendar Girls.

If you're keen on Sally Hawkins, one to look out for is Submarine. Sweet, funny, clever ... though you Yanks will probably miss half of the jokes... or maybe not. We'll find out soon, methinks.

Posted by: SB at October 22, 2010 7:51 PM