I don't do many film reviews, I tend to do them when I watch a film that really had an impact on me but I don't think "impact" quite covers how I feel about this film. So I'm going to tell you exactly what made Suffragette my favourite film so far in 2015...
Okay, so before I act like I know everything about the Suffragette movement (which I don't) I just want to point out that this film exhibits a breakthrough in history that was only made nearly 87 years ago. Let's just think about that for a moment, not even a 100 years yet of us women having the right to vote equally to men here in the UK. In the end credits of the film it pointed out that this year Saudi Arabian women earned the right to vote. I'm blown away by it all, it's not something I've ever thought about properly. I mean why would I, I'm a free woman who can do as she pleases right? Yes I am, but what made me open my eyes was the fact that only some women in far off countries from where I am, recently got the advantage of having a right to vote, to have a voice in their society.
Throughout the film we follow the character Maud (Carey Mulligan) a wife and mother of George, who earns a living in one of the many laundry factories in London. She meets fellow women Violet, Emily and Edith all in similar situations as her who are protesting peacefully for equality, only to achieve nothing. Turning to violence as the only way to make change happen, they were willing to sacrifice everything; their jobs, their homes, their children and their lives.
There were many moments during the film where I wanted to scream, cry and stand up with these women and fight for what is right. This film has enhanced my appreciation for having the right to vote, throughout I was enlightened to the painful struggle these brave women put themselves through just so other women like myself could obtain the equal rights of men. It's such an immense feeling when you really think about it, to not be oppressed, to have an opinion on matters that concern me as well as those I love. I don't understand those who don't bother to vote in this country, saying "it doesn't make a difference" blah blah blah. I'm sorry but it clearly does and people died for you to have your say in society, they didn't do it for you to chuck it away as an inconvenience. It's an insult to their memory, to think there are still women across the world who are still fighting for the right to have their own voices heard.
I will end this with a thank you to the real women who sacrificed themselves for equality, I have a voice and for that I'm grateful to them all.
