Made in Dagenham
Classicism against attack. After the pretty but traditional friendship lesson of “The King’s Speech”, though up to the inspiring women in revolt superficial “Made in Dagenham”. How fortunate it is the radiant Sally Hawkins to pass the time!
Dagenham is a municipality of London. It is also here in the late 1960s that women workers at Ford have decided to strike for the employer to recognize their presence and contribution. Led by the determined Rita (Sally Hawkins) and the union leader Albert (Bob Hoskins), this group has marked the collective universe by winning better conditions and changing the mindset of working usually unequal between men and women.
This story inspired by true events follows the movement of British social cinema (which is believed to “Bread and Roses” by Ken Loach and “Brassed Off Mark Herman”) while eyeing – but with less success – to models American (the excellent “Norma Rae” with Sally Field and the burning “Matewan” by John Sayles). Instead of accurately and consistently describe the battle these women, the book remains on the surface, exchanging gray light comedy drama. What could have been a very interesting study of manners becomes a mere “feel-good movie” that multiplies the issues without exploring them in depth.
The opposite of a committed cinema and burning of a Mike Leigh, the director Nigel Cole wants a much lighter, as evidenced by its uneven “Saving Grace”, “A Lot Like Love” and “$5 a Day” is released directly to DVD. Like his biggest hit, “Calendar Girls”, he likes to bring together a diverse group of actresses. Instead of dwelling more time to make his dialogue much stronger, its more complex situations and to spice up his stage, he spends his time developing chemistry between its characters. An excellent idea to the talent of its lovely distribution (Bob Hoskins, Miranda Richardson, Rosamund Pike, Rupert Graves, etc..), but eventually run out of steam before the end of the feature film.
Like a Superman arriving unannounced is Sally Hawkins, who avoids the subject languishes in its comfort and indifference. With her smile sunny revelation of “Happy-Go-Lucky” shining lights of 1000, constantly finding the right emotion. In perfect bride, she will undergo a transformation to 180 degrees, forcing him to show as many maps strengths than weaknesses, which underpins a look if your a developer and in constant balance between drama and comedy.
Through testing it became more pleasant, less formatted. And she manages to take this medium of storytelling completely neutral and that the end credits ending – it’s fashionable these days with “The Fighter” and company – for archives of these real women. It is however sad that before a premise so strong and historically significant, the treatment accorded to “Made in Dagenham” is so banal and forgettable.
