There were moments in this movie when I felt like cheering out loud. Not necessarily political moments but there is one scene, for instance, when Thatcher is being gently grilled by her doctor. "How are you feeling Margaret?". "Feeling?" she replies. "Feeling? That's the trouble these days. Everybody talks about feelings. Nobody talks about thinking. Never thoughts. Or ideas. That's what I'm interested in. What people are thinking." Or to that effect.
There is a moment where the ageing Thatcher is bailed up by a young woman who heard her speak at a conference. She thanks Thatcher for paving the way for other women "to be something." Thatcher ponders, "In my day it was about doing something. Today it's all about being something."
It's a very intense picture necessarily so through the depiction of Thatcher's intensity. By the time it ended I was ready to get out of there. I had been led to believe it showed a lighter side of Thatcher. I couldn't find it.
You saw a woman who appeared to establish her principles very young and never waver. No compromise, no conciliation. Her husband is painted in a kind light. If there was any confusion about Thatcher at all it is whether she depended on him heavily, or drew all her strength inwardly. The ending doesn't resolve that.
The earlier times when a sharper division was drawn between socialism and conservatism described Thatcher's values simply. Heavily influenced by her father who claims in a speech, "Everybody isn't equal. That's a nonsense. Never have been and never will be. But they all need to chance to achieve..." (Again to that effect). His ideas are echoed in Margaret later fiercely arguing for the poll tax with her cabinet. "Everybody must pay some tax. Everybody must have some stake in their community. Even the poorest must have some ownership or do they live in graffiti covered, litter strewn landscapes?"
It is a movie I highly recommend (especially to John Key). Will you enjoy it? That is the wrong adjective to describe the experience. I didn't shed a tear. Strangely enough it will made me think rather than feel.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I went to see the movie too.
It wasn't the hatchet job I had feared, though there is something upsetting and disrespectful in showing one of our greatest world leaders as a doddering confused old woman 'seeing' her dead husband.
I also wonder about the bit near the end where Dennis is seen telling Maggie she is always all right on her own.
I went to see the film in Hamilton yesterday but what struck me was the audience, though really I cannot be surprised.
Out of the 100 or so , I would be one of the youngest and in Hamilton, which is about 15-20% Maori, there was just one Maori watching, a well-scrubbed respectable middle class looking lady.
Apaprt from one 40-something Asian lady, the 90 or so others would be Middle Class Pakeha , most likely of UK ancestry too, maybe arriving here before thatcher took office or during the Balir era. They seemed supporters.
But Margaret Thatcher's story should offer some inspiration to Maori.
Here was a woman who broke down barriers of class and sex to achieve greatness.
That a woman of relative humble beginnings could achieve so much should inspire New Zealanders of all backgrounds.
Thatcher tell us the glass ceilings and barriers are all in our minds and we can achieve it, if we set our hearts and minds on it.
That should be Mrs Thatchers message and inspiration to all of us, especially Maori.
Sime-and-wave Key wouldn't even have the spine to pay admission.
I grew up in a typical working class family, my dad was a fireman in the Royal navy, later on north sea trawlers and finally for British steel, what Thatcher did to the steelworkers and miners is unforgiveable, she had a pathological hatred of heavy industry, decent people suffered because of this vile, war mongering milk snatcher, in between decimating industry she was selling us out to Europe, Fairfacts media and Manolo obviously didn't grow up in a traditional working class enviroment, I did, subsequently I've never trusted a tory. This film was advertised on a bus shelter I drove past earlier, ironically enough it was outside a closed down factory.
You two obviously didn't grow up in a traditional British working class family, you obviously didn't have your school milk snatched, you obviously never witnessed this country on the brink of civil war, you have never seen the effect that the decimation of heavy industry has on proud hard working communities, you've never seen the Police supress people on lawful demonstrations, you've never seen a war mongering ego maniac use a group of Islands 8,000 miles away as an election point while handing over more of our power to Europe, traditional heavy industry helped shape this country, Thatcher's hatred of the very people who made us lead the World, bordered on the psychotic, I saw what this vile woman did, this film has just come out on DVD, I saw it advertised as I was driving past a bus shelter situated outside a closed down factory, quite ironic really, needless to say, I haven't watched it. The real life experience was enough without wising to re live it.
Post a Comment