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| Carey Mulligan |
The compelling, well-acted period piece "Suffragette" explores the women who helped pave the way for women's rights today. Directed by Sarah Gavron ("Brick Lane") and written by "The Iron Lady's" Abi Morgan, "Suffragette" mixes fact and fiction and runs through some redundant and uneven patches, especially in the last act, but it's a worthy tale to be told. The movie is about working-class laundress named Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan) in 19th century London who becomes radicalized when she meets a brave cadre of women organizing to obtain the vote, including the passionately tough Edith Ellyn (Helena Bonham Carter). They risked all they had for women's right to vote - their jobs, their homes, their children, and even their lives. The powerful "Suffragette" wears its feminist badge proudly, though it's more than just a "women's movie" but an inspiring look at the pioneers of women's rights, and evoking the feel of that day. Mulligan and Bonham Carter are both excellent in Oscar-worthy, albeit fictionalized roles that mingles with some real people, including Emmeline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep in only a brief cameo mid-film) and Emily Davison (Natalie Press); the most vivid moments aren't necessarily the bombs or the blood but the personal ones, such as when Maud's son is taken from her or when she's comforting a fellow suffragette (Anne Marie-Duff, also memorable in a supporting role). The uneven script and pacing has some patchy moments and tends to go in too many directions, making it feel more like a standard police procedural than an important human rights drama; it also leaves out the non-militant wing of the suffrage movement, the suffragists, which were also key to this movement, though the suffragette's militant tactics are more fun to watch. Even with some of its flaws, "Suffragette" is superbly acted and affecting, and a satisfying look at a still-relevant piece of history.
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