Review: Made in Dagenham

Opening at the Arbor on Friday, the British movie Made in Dagenham is a feminist film, and doesn't hide it. It's also quite hilarious, with deft performances and witty writing.

Based in 1968, Made in Dagenham tells the true story of the female workers at the Ford of Britain motor plant in Dagenham who protest when they are re-graded as unskilled workers. This change in pay class means they are paid less, of course. The plant's union rep Albert (Bob Hoskins) helps convince plant seamstress Rita O'Grady (Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins, Happy Go Lucky) to represent the ladies for union talks with Ford leadership. Rita and Albert, along with another plant seamstress and usual union rep Connie (Geraldine James), head to London to speak to the bigwigs. Eventually a strike for equal pay is called that impacts the female plant workers as well as the males.

There are many multidimensional characters in Made in Dagenham. Rita is married to another plant worker, and her husband Eddie (Daniel Mays) is supportive of her union work ... to a point. Connie and her husband George (Roger Lloyd-Pack, The Vicar of Dibley) are trying to cope with his PTSD (he's a WWII vet).  Young seamstress Sandra (Jaime Winstone) dreams of becoming a model and moving out of Dagenham. Stylish and sophisticated housewife Lisa (Rosamund Pike) comes to know Rita and thus makes her own small rebellion. Labour MP Barbara Castle (winningly portrayed by Miranda Richardson) has just become the first female Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity.

The film focuses more on Rita and Secretary Castle as their seemingly separate storylines come to merge. Despite the large cast involved, though, it's hard to find a shallow character in the bunch. Even the baddies -- the American Ford exec played by Richard Schiff and the Ford of Britain exec played by Rupert Graves -- are multi-faceted! 

But what struck me most about Made in Dagenham was its ability to balance the emotional plight of these women with such wonderful humor. William Ivory's script keeps the film light when it needs to be, darker when it comes to that, but is never heavy-handed.

Songs from the period are interspersed throughout, and the film begins with old Ford advertisements to set the tone.  I recommend staying through the credits, as you get to see interview clips of the real women involved in this history-making strike.