For any female looking for a bit of a self-esteem boost, this film will absolutely hit the spot. The characters are endearing, the story is inspiring and the entertainment running throughout keeps you glued to the screen. You can't watch this without wishing you were there to experience the incredible movement these women made in society. Don't get this confused with a chic-flick though, because this has a far deeper level to it than your Drew Barrymore film. Based in Dagenham where Rita O'Grady (Sally Hawkins) made her name, the girls involved really are fun to watch. They're cheeky, charming and you can easily gain a connection with them. Added with this, we have Bob Hoskins there to guide and support the girls along in their fight for justice. Rather than taking over the scene because of his strong presence, he sits back and lets the women dominate the screen
What's great about this film is that no one is glamourised. Set in a run-down area, the girls live with a low-income and average life, but are full of fighting spirit. This turns them into believable, watchable people who really effect you emotionally. Particularly with Sally Hawkins, the timidness mixed with determination makes her final result that more jump out of your seat exciting, because she's overcome this fear of hurting anyone and stands up for what is right.
You can just imagine what really happened in the 1968 strikes at Ford. The costumes are perfect, the iconography of the time is placed into the film effortlessly, and the music matches every scene. Clearly Nigel Cole (director of this and Calendar Girls) has found his calling. He turns females from the sex symbol stereotype of Hollywood to real, beautiful women with passion and drive.
Adding all these elements together, plus the fact this is a proper British film makes your love for the country's film industry grow even fonder. You gain a new found respect for these real women that deserve to be credited, and actually can understand what feminism is really about, rather than the cliche men-hating name it seems to have made for itself now.
