Suffragette

It would seem that filmmakers are not quite finished with our biopic filled year! Last year the Oscars was overloaded with biopics from every corner of the globe and it seems like British director Sarah Gavron isn't ready to move on just yet. Opening in October 2015, Suffragette boasts a strong lineup of British and Hollywood faves. Meryl Streep joins Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter to fight for womens rights in the late 19th Century. Based on true events, audiences follow Mulligan and Co. as they forge a path for the Feminist Movement and protest the governments rules restricting the activities of the female gender. 

However, as similarly stated by Sarah Jackson in her review for the Guardian, the film fails to acknowledge the many different types of women and types of action that were taken towards the same cause. Although told from the perspective of a working class woman (Mulligan), the type of woman who would have been the foundations of the Suffragette movement, the film fails to address the already existing movement at the time the film was set. At the very beginning of the film the audience is made aware of existing movements but this is limited to a single sentence. The pressure of films that cover such monumental moments in history is always to produce accurate yet entertaining interpretations of the events. Whilst my knowledge of the initial movement is shamefully sparse, I cannot help but feel like the film was missing the opportunity to display some of the different steps that were taken towards equality. As perfectly and appropriately quoted by Jackson: The Suffragettes weren't just white, middle-class women throwing stones.

As for the performances within the film, Mulligan continues to make me feel disappointed with each role that she tackles. I've never been a huge fan and this role made me yearn for more. Her face never conveys much and frankly, I thought her to be too soft for the working class character. And for one that had been through so much, I was surprised that by the end of the film, she still looked composed, healthy and with a fragile demeanour. Even when we hear her shout and scream, it felt hesitant. The only scene that I found Mulligan to be compelling was when her character was being force fed in prison. Her screams were penetrating and difficult to listen to.  

I've always been a huge fan of Meryl Streep and I'm always excited to see which roles she picks next. After the painful experience that was Ricki and the Flash, I was expecting big, big things from her. Streep's involvement in Suffragette did not shock. She has been a very vocal supporter of humans rights and the feminist movement. Therefore, it seems natural for Streep to jump at the opportunity to further publicise the struggles that women have faced in order to be viewed as equals. Her time on screen was small, mostly her character was spoken of but never seen as she was on the run from the government. Acting as the leader, Streep's appearance on screen is focused on one speech delivered from a balcony to crowds of passionate women. But despite being seen as the true leader of the cause, Helena Bonham Carter certainly ruled the roost in East London. I found her portrayal to be convincing and moving. This role, as Edith Ellyn, has only solidified my belief that Carter is one of the best actors working today.

As a woman, I was aware of the contents of the film being of significant importance to how my life could have been had there not been a change. The film was an interesting and compellingly told story of why it's important to fight for your rights (to party?). On a serious note, Suffragette shines a light on issues that I believe many women today take for granted. Hopefully, this film can educate people of all genders on why inclusivity and acceptance along with government supported rights is the only way our society will grow and develop. We need to start treating others with the respect they deserve and not like lesser beings just because of their gender. One of the most emotional parts of the film came just before the credits. As with many biopics, footage was used from the original events that inspired the film. This was then followed by the dates that women were legally allowed to vote from around the world. Unfortunately, this highlighted that women in some countries were only able to vote as of this year, and some are still waiting for that right. 

This film could easily be a strong beginning to the pre-award-season season. I'm excited to see how the film will stand against those that are released in early 2016 when the general public, once again, turn their attention to the best films that the previous year had to offer. Regardless of Suffragette's success in box office or amongst critics, I'm sure this film will be shown for years to come in high school history classes to young minds that aren't quite ready to understand where they stand in this world and why their gender is a pivotal part of that.