Suffragette

[raj101]

This movie really isn't Sunday morning material, as it can only leave you feeling appalled at the treatment of citizens in their own country (by their own government and people, I would add). I found it quite depressing when I let myself really internalise what was going on (and had been for centuries), and that's even with the foreknowledge of what happened in history - seeing it graphically will bring you to tears and are at times unwatchable. If that wasn't enough, the knock on effects of the Suffragete movement on individuals are made all too clear.

Theres also a massive effort made to make the movie authentic, with dressed down actors, even careful choice of a very non-glamorous cast apart from the lead. I was hard pressed to find a faulty shot throughout (although there was a moment in the cut before a streetshot where I think a modern vehicle was about to intrude from the sound of it).

I thought Bonham Carter wasn't the best choice for her role - nothing about her performance which was the usual angry posh, just the Bohemian baggage she brought into a movie that's supposed to be gritty working class.

Of course its not the movies fault for not being a Sunday movie,I chose to go to it today! It is a a very good film, if the final scenes lack a little punch.

A highly disturbing statement on post-Victorian England's barbarism. But I'd say don't see it on a Sunday.

Yet the ugly offspring of these times still lives on in sexist p*y differences in sport etc today.

somewhere between 3 and 4 stars.

[The Sparrow]

A man asked what I thought of the and wrinkled his nose, saying it's not my kind of film. When I pointed out that it's about human rights as much as women's rights, he said "I'm not interested in human rights".

[Beate]

I would have trod on his foot. With a comment like that he has forfeited every human right to go through life unscathed.

[raj101]

Was it just me or did anyone else think that Meryl Streep, in her blink and you'll miss her role, just regurgitated her Margaret Thatcher character.
.

that's true she was so Thatcher, which might well have been a deliberate ying yang statement by the director for us, given that the Thatch was the first female PM, and was famously opposed to "freedom fighting" in her scorn for Mandela. It made her speech both a genuinely funny and hideously ironic scene.

[D-Fens]

Thought it lacked focus (and a steadicam) was more about the methods of fighting rather than the reasons, if the Saudi Arabia decision was reversed a similar approach would be disastrous but the movie could have highlighted why even debating the issue is ludicrous.

Have no idea about Emily Davisons background for example yet you would think her actions turned everything around overnight, can't see how that's possible so as a story it doesn't make sense.

[raj101]

I was surprised to see trailers before this free screen. I'd like to nominate the one for "The Lady in The Van" as one of the all time greatest trailers, it looks hilarious from that.

[simon__200]

I don't know how accurate these portrayals were, but I was surprised that only one male character in the entire film was shown to have any sympathy with the cause. Even the main protagnaist's husband was an absolute chauvinist pig.

[D-Fens]

Thought Brendan Gleesons character was fairly sympathetic, he could have been a hard line villian but he did show a bit of empathy and was only really doing his job? And there were the thousands that lined the streets.

If anything there needed to be an unsympathetic female because if they had 100% support it would have moved a bit quicker.

[Beate]

I don't know how accurate these portrayals were, but I was surprised that only one male character in the entire film was shown to have any sympathy with the cause. Even the main protagnaist's husband was an absolute chauvinist pig.

To be fair, I think he was a typical product of his time. Bonham Carter's supportive husband must have been an exception.

[ladams888]

Saw this on Sunday in Wimbledon. A lot of confusion at the start as we were told to go to Screen 8, but there were TWO screen 8’s (Why? Obviously Wimbledon Odeon’s own logic, I guess!) – so we all went to the wrong one at first. Then, strangely, there was about ten minutes of trailers – that was a first. Finally we get to the film. I really enjoyed it. Carey Mulligan absolutely stole the show – she’s very good at deep and meaningful silences (I first noticed this in Never Let Me Go) – very few actors can do this well, but with her it’s all in the eyes. I also really liked Helena Bonham-Carter’s performance. I’ve always enjoyed watching Natalie Press (Emily Davison); she had an outstanding performance in My Summer of Love – why don’t we see more of her? The film got me quite hot under the collar with all of its references to women’s inferiority. An excellent film which showed that there was a lot more to the suffragette movement than Mrs Banks prancing about in Mary Poppins – but very uncomfortable to watch at times. 9/10

But it should be noted, however, that the Suffragette movement didn’t secure women the vote, but it did raise awareness and they were finally given the vote as a rather condescending Thank-you after their efforts during WWI – and to think that many women nowadays just can’t be bothered to vote and have no interest in how the country is run. It was also very interesting to see facts regarding when various countries gave women the vote (couldn’t believe France was as late as 1944) and Saudi Arabia appears to be promising it for 2015 – we shall see about that one…!