Made in Dagenham (Nigel Cale, 2010): UK

Reviewed by Yuichi K. Viewed at Mann’s Chinese 6, AFI Fest 2010.

Nowadays, open door is one of the most important things in the world. When Woman’s Liberation showed up with the civil rights movement in America in 1960s, it was not a normal thing. However, Woman’s Liberation spread to the world and it became a big .

Made in Dagenham is a film about Woman’s Liberation in the United Kingdom in 1968. Ford in Dagenham is the biggest factory in Europe. It has 55,000 men and 187 women workers. They all work as the same, but the company’s behaviors for women is not as the same as men. One day, Rita (Sally Hawkins) has a chance to join a business talk with her boss. Then accidentally, Rita refers that she stands a labor union and goes on strike.

In the story, Rita works with her colleague in Ford’s factory in Dagenham. She stitches seat covers for Ford’s cars everyday. The sound of sawing machines is like machine guns in a war front. Naturally, there is the war front of Rita’s labor union, and also it’s a place that spends time with colleagues. However, it’s a sorry thing, her movement yielded a death. A husband of one of core members of the union is suicide. It’s a huge sacrifice of her movement.

The one of most shocking things is that Ford tries to extend the strike with intentions. The company moves all sawing machines and takes photographs for their advertisements. It indicates not only sound employer’s attitude, but also disconsolate employees’ mind.

Director of this film is Nigel Cale. He won Audience Award in Sundance Film Festival with “Saving Grace” in 2000. The heroine, Sally Hawkins won Golden Globe for “Happy-Go-Lucky” in 2009.

“Where there is a will, there is a way.” Rita did it in the story. The Woman’s Liberation in UK, like Rita leaded in the film, made “Equal Pay Act 1970”. “Made in Dagenham” is worth watching for people, especially, who tackle difficulties. It will open in November 19, 2010 in the United States.