Women’s rights film touts and delivers “Deeds, not words.”
As a period story, Suffragette effectively recounts the harrowing women’s suffrage movement of early-20th century Britain, where women were locked away and tortured for demanding equal rights. As a current piece of filmmaking, the female-starring, female-written and female-directed drama couldn’t come at a better time, as the conversation of gender imbalance in Hollywood and abroad reaches a crescendo in our own modern-day society.
Directed by Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane), the film follows Maud Watts (played by Carey Mulligan), a fictitious laundry worker and housewife whose life is forever changed when she secretly joins the growing suffragette movement. Partnered with real-life activists Edith Ellyn (Helena Bonham Carter), Emily Davison (Natalie Press) and others, Maud rallies against increasingly aggressive police forces led by Detective Steed (Brendan Gleeson) — much to the chagrin of Maud’s husband Sonny (Ben Wishaw). Soon, Maud must decide if fighting for her rights is worth being disgraced by her friends and family, as well as putting her own life at risk.
We want to hear it.
Suffragette’s greatest asset is Mulligan, who delivers a subtle yet powerful performance as Maud. Playing the audience surrogate, her character starts out as a soft-spoken pushover, but she gradually transforms into one of the movement’s foremost pioneers. As a result, Suffragette can sometimes feel like it’s systematically “ticking boxes,” so to speak — that is, making sure Maud is on the periphery of every major protest and rally of the time. However, it speaks to Abi Morgan’s script that almost all the major set pieces — excluding the climax, unfortunately — is anchored by Maud and her personal struggle.
Bonham Carter and co-star Anne-Marie Duff offer additional support to the piece, and they each have their own moments to shine as well. Their characters also have the most informative things to say, shedding light on the lesser known aspects of the movement, but in a natural way. Little touches like, say, the hunger strike medals each woman received after her incarceration help flesh out the time period, without Ellyn or Davison getting too expository with them.
Anne-Marie Duff, Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter in Suffragette
For her part, Meryl Streep does a fine job playing the esteemed suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst. That said, her role is a glorified cameo more than anything else. Honestly, it’s a little misleading on the marketing team’s part to feature her so prominently in the promos and posters. Streep appears for approximately one scene (the one in the trailer) and never shows up again. Suffice to say, if the Oscar winner is a big draw for you to see the film, you might leave Suffragette slightly disappointed by her limited screen time.
Ultimately, though, this is Maud’s story, and Mulligan brings all the passion and determination the film needs. Meanwhile, Gavron and her production team back up the performances with a keen eye for Edwardian England, offering dynamic sets and impressive art direction. Combined, Suffragette makes up an affecting, if somewhat matter-of-fact look at an important touchstone in women’s rights history.
Suffragette successfully captures the hardship and bravery of the British women’s suffrage movement, while also showcasing a wonderful performance from Carey Mulligan. Technically, it’s skillfully written and directed, boasting appealing visuals and a strong character arc. While the film sometimes feels methodical in its approach, its heart and message are in the right place — and, sadly, it’s still relevant.
