This post is brought to you by Nuffnang and Transition Films
It’s one thing to be entertained, another to be educated, and something entirely different to have your world perspective altered.
Suffragette hit such a sharp and painful note with me, my heart lurched and tears immediately sprang to my eyes.
In a society where so many young women spend their time competing with one another, forming their sense of self worth on social media and counting their personal value in likes, Suffragette is more than an historical film, it’s a wake up call.
The sense of utter powerlessness, of servitude and anger felt by women in a world dominated and controlled by men, is one that we have but a very small understanding of.
Across the most of the Western world, women have held the right to vote for less than 100 years.
Here in Australia, as white (Anglo) women, we’ve had the right to vote since 1902. Sadly this didn’t extend to our indigenous population till as recently as 1962.
Worldwide, these rights we hold as fundamental, are still not the norm. With many women (too many) still facing a future that does not include education, where they can be sold into marriage as children and their bodies used as instruments of retribution, how is it that more of us don’t make our voices heard?
There is a lack of awareness I see around me of our rights as women, and how those we now take for granted, were won.
How fragile is our position when even here in Australia we still don’t receive equal pay for equal work or even hold complete rights over our own bodies in 2015?
The Suffragette shatters any sense of complacency or entitlement you may have felt.
“All my life I’ve done what men have told me. Well I can’t have that anymore”
Opening in early 20th-century England, the story of the suffragette movement is told with the kind of raw humanity that let’s you feel the personal torture of it’s central characters.
Maud Watts (played by Carey Mulligan) is young, poor and voiceless; living with her young family in Edwardian England. Becoming swept up in the suffrage movement, we are confronted with the reality life as a second-class citizen, marginalised and forced to turn to violence as the only means of being heard.
Under the wing of a group of women fighting for equality and the right to vote, Watts and her compatriots become increasingly radicalised in their struggle. Risking their families and their lives, these tenacious women put everything on the line to fight the brutal State.
In 2015, when as a group our voices have never been so prolific or broadcast to a wider audience, there is a shameful lack of conversation, of information and of action.
Suffragette is not just an entertaining piece of cinema; it is a vital work of political and personal awakening.
#IAmSuffragette
Such a powerful, eye-opening film. And a timely reminder that we can often take so much for granted!
Swah: Indeed. I really loved your review of this one too, just excellent. 🙂
Thanks for the review. Its good to remember that even in 2105, women around the world are not anywhere near as lucky as here in Australia. Hell in some places girls are still chattel and never get educated. This is a movie I will need to watch I think
Yvonne: It’s utterly appalling and its quite shocking when you think about how apathetic we can often be about it in our daily lives. I’m looking for some real options to help make a difference in these women’s lives… even if I’m just one. xx
Can’t wait to see this movie. I think it might be one I take my older daughters to.
I think the sadest thing is how many young (and even older) women see feminism as a bad word. All it means is equal rights for women. So many of them don’t know their own history and what the women before us fought for and the privileges we have now because of that fight. But also the fight continues. Hopefully this movie can give us all a kick up the ass and appreciate what we have and fight for more.
Candice,
This movie is one of it’s kind – alas, those gals out there, to whom it would matter the most will not venture into seeing it; because it’s not within their “niche”. Sadly, I have noticed the step back women have made over here.
What was “build” by previous generations, is now on the verge… and I fear for our liberty (not in a sense of slavery, but in a sense of expressing one-self). A generation brought-up after WWII has started a strong battle for liberty, our mothers have continued and won on so many levels. We now have almost equal term like our males do: we study, we work, we get housing credits…
But, few years ago, something has shifted away from this – and girls (and women) started observing themselves as objects.. copying those dreadful Reality TV shows we’ve imported – that is not something I’m glad we did so well.
..
I hope for a bright future!
Many hugs!
M.