“Deeds, not words.”
This is a mantra that is heartily repeated throughout “Suffragette,” the passionate account of the foot soldiers of the feminist movement in the 1920s.
Penned by Abi Morgan (“Shame,” “The Iron Lady”) and directed by Sarah Gavron, the film follows Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan), a woman who works in the laundries in London to make ends meet. But it is not easy to work in grueling conditions that reap low wages and often cut the women’s lives short—a life into which she was born, and to which any future daughter that she may have would be doomed.
But when Maud gets caught amidst a protest involving women—including her coworker, Violet (Anne-Marie Duff)—throwing rocks at windows and screaming, “Vote for women!” she sees hope in the future. Maud begins asking questions about the movement with Violet at work and with her son’s doctor, Edith Ellyn (Helena Bonham Carter), slowly inching herself toward civil disobedience, until finally she is asked to give her testimony for a trial that the suffragettes hope will bring about their right to vote.
Meanwhile, there are rumors that the leader of the movement, Emmeline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep) will come out of hiding to rally up the women in their cause. Inspector Arthur Steed (Brendan Gleeson) has been assigned to track down a list of suffragettes in order to get to Pankhurst—and Maud is included in that list. Though she initially insists that she is not a suffragette, eventually she finds herself taken by the undertow and embracing the cause, as the pieces of her life that she holds dearest begin to fall away.
It is a moving, gritty film, virtually bleeding human spirit. Here, we see a group of women whose situation has become so dire that they only see escape—and in effect, forward movement—in the form of violence. This includes a theme of sacrifice, illustrated by the story of Emily Wilding Davison (Natalie Press), the woman who literally gave her life for women’s voices to be heard.
It is not surprising that cast members throw themselves so earnestly into their roles, and what amazing performances we see from all of them. Mulligan is, as usual, raw and emotive; Duff and Carter also deserve high accolades. And, in a film where the women are not dolled up to fit today’s societal standards, value is found in the blatant reality that these women bring to the unfolding scenes. In fact, the majority of the cast matches the energy brought on by its leading ladies, though, surprisingly enough, Streep’s role as Pankhurst felt a bit disjointed. One can see the parallels of the widely acknowledged queen of theater playing the leader of the suffragette movement, but, beyond that, the role felt like it was thrown in.
“Suffragette” speaks of an era that flaunted inequality to an era that still maintains that same struggle. It is a vivid depiction of the continuing fight for equality, a film that you won’t want to miss. Coming soon to the Midtown Cinema!
MIDTOWN CINEMA
NOVEMBER EVENTS
“Oklahoma”
Nov. 1, 6pm
Gamut Theatre Presents:
Digital Theatre Series
“Hamlet”
Sunday, Nov. 1, 4pm
Sunday, Nov. 8, 4pm
“Henry V”
Sunday, Nov. 22, 4pm
Sunday, Nov. 24, 7pm
Midnight Matinee
“The Dark Knight”
Saturday, Nov. 7, 11:55pm
Classic Film Series
“Casablanca”
Sunday, Nov. 8, 6pm
Down in Front!
“Showgirls”
Friday, Nov. 13, 9:30pm
3rd in the Burg
“Blade Runner: The Final Cut”
Friday, Nov. 20, 9:30pm
Faulkner Honda Family Film Series
“The Iron Giant”
Saturday, Nov. 21, 12pm
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2pm
