Made in Dagenham (2010)

Jack and I really liked the fictionalized tale of the true Dagenham, England, Ford assembly plant sewing machinists' strike in 1968, due to which that country passed its 1970 Equal Pay Act. Though some of the accents are a wee bit hard to make out, we followed this early feminist story just fine. Sally Hawkins (after I wrote about her in Happy-Go-Lucky, she was in An Education, Never Let Me Go and more) puts in a fine performance as Rita O'Grady, who organizes (the Brits would spell it organises and they pronounce the town DAG-innim) her all-female co-workers in the shop, egged on by her boss, played with impish glee by Bob Hoskins (Oscar nominated for Mona Lisa (1986), he was also terrific in The Cotton Club (1984), Brazil (1985), Sweet Liberty (1986), as J. Edgar Hoover in Nixon (1995), in Hollywoodland (2006), much more, and was nominated by the British Independent Film Awards for Mrs Henderson Presents (2005) as well as this role, one of many BAFTA nominations earned here--no wins unfortunately). You'll see fine supporting work by Daniel Mays (Vera Drake (2004), Tommy in Atonement, and more) as Rita's mostly supportive husband Eddie, Rosamund Pike (I wrote about her in Barney's Version) as Lisa, Miranda Richardson (read what I wrote about her in The Young Victoria) as British Labour politician Barbara Castle, normally bearded Richard Schiff (best known as Toby Ziegler in 145 episodes of The West Wing, he's been in plenty of movies, including I Am Sam (2001), Ray (2004), Last Chance Harvey, and Solitary Man, to name a few) as the clean shaven American sent by Ford to work it out, and some of the machinists, including Jaime Winstone (daughter of respected actor Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast (2000), The Departed (2006), others) as the peroxided wanna-be model Sandra and Andrea Riseborough (also in Happy-Go-Lucky and Never Let Me Go) with her hair teased high as Brenda. The 60s hair, makeup, and wardrobe is good fun. One name we couldn't make out so I had to look it up later: "Is it a Biba?" Rita asks Lisa about her red dress. Biba was a trendy designer of the day.

I just learned something: I was already a fan of director Nigel Cole for his funny and heartwarming Saving Grace (2000), Calendar Girls (2003), and A Lot Like Love (2005). Screenwriter William Ivory (no relation to the filmmaker in the Merchant-Ivory tem) makes his feature debut here. Jack and I also enjoyed the vintage picture cars and the vintage-looking cinematography by John de Borman (The Full Monty (1997), Saving Grace, A Lot Like Love, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Last Chance Harvey, An Education, and more).

There are plenty of 60s songs to liven your moviegoing experience, including pop singer Sandie Shaw, who actually worked at that plant, singing the title track. Apropos of the Biba, Hawkins is 5'5" Pike is 5'9". You'll understand when you see it, as you should. Rottentomatoes' contributors agree, with the critics giving it 80% and the audience 74%.