Change is not easy, whether it is on a personal level or on an overall society level. It takes courage and conviction to fight for what you believe in, even when your told that your wrong.
The 2010 movie, Made In Dagenham, is based up on the 1968 strike at Ford Motor Company Dagenham plant in London. The strikers were the female workers, whose pay was about to the downgraded. Rita O’Grady (Sally Hawkins) is the reluctant leader and voice of the strikers. Albert Passingham (the late Bob Hoskins) is her adviser. Her husband Eddie (Daniel Mays) tries to be supportive, but when Rita’s personal life is put aside for the strike, her marriage appears to be on shaky ground.
I thoroughly enjoy this movie. Rita is not a politician nor she does not have any ulterior motives. She just wants to earn the same salary that her male colleagues earn so she can raise her children and pay her bills. It’s not such a hard concept to understand. I’ve been a fan of Sally Hawkins for a few years , she is incredibly talented as a performer. The supporting cast is perfect.
What I love about this movie is that it shows how far we have come and how far we need to go. After the strike was over, the Equal Pay Act of 1970 was made into a law. The last time I checked, American women are still being paid less then their male colleagues, even if their education and professional experience goes beyond that of said male colleagues.
I recommend this movie.
It is being made into a musical. I’m not a fan of taking an existing book or movie and making it into a musical. On one hand, it is a known quantity with a fan base that will hopefully bring in theatergoers. But on the other hand, new writers with new stories may not have the change to see their work on stage. But I love this movie and I would very curious as to how it is translated from film to stage.
Writergurlny 