Made in Dagenham

In the United States we have the tendency to be a little egocentric and we forget that there is a whole world on the other side of the ocean. In one small English industrial town, in 1968, a group of women machinists decided to stand up and face one of the world’s largest auto manufactures, America’s Ford. The issue was equal pay and recognition as semi-skilled laborers. The problem was that Ford has plants all over the globe and what these women wanted had huge financial repercussions. Ford came down on them with all their might, but they held fast. Made in Dagenham is the true story of these women and how they changed history.

Unlike Norma Rae, Silkwood or Erin Brockovich this film is not about one mouthy woman, it emphasizes a group that held stedfast together. After a one day work stoppage an unassuming leader arises and Ford is at a loss on how to control her. She has no political or union background, no education, she is a common woman living in factory housing married to another factory employee, with two kids. Her strength comes from moral right, clear thinking and good common sense. She becomes the voice and face of the woman’s movement and Rita O’Grady is a natural. With uncanny instinct and shrewd self-awareness she becomes the little mouse that roared, and the world listened.

Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky) portrays Rita O’Grady and her performance is so subtile and finely nuanced that it is hard to notice that she is acting. The look and tone of the film so accurately captures the 60’s that I barely recognized Richard Schiff (The Westwing) who plays Ford’s representative. Bob Hoskins (Who Framed Roger Rabbit) plays the ladies supervisor who supports and guides their union walkout. Daniel Mays (Vera Drake) plays Rita’s husband. He represents the men in this film and how their support turns to self-preservation. This film is an excellent example of the social obstacles that women faced. Modern girls don’t understand how hard it was for woman to speak up back then. I think that every working woman should she this film and give thanks for women like Rita O’Grady.

Rating: Must See Every woman should see this film and say thanks