Cast: Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham-Carter and Meryl Streep,
Directed By: Sarah Gavron

The basis for the story is quite simple and deals with the battle for women’s right to vote in Britain in 1912 A true story of the political awakening that took place, brings into focus a very important moment in history for women’s rights, that also changed the way women were treated.  

The film traces the hardships the women went through, and centres around a fictional young laundry factory worker Maud (Carey Mulligan) from London’s East End, who becomes a part of the feminist movement to attain political voting rights for women. A devoted mother and wife, she gets caught up in the suffrage movement so much so that her life takes a drastic turn when her husband Sonny (Ben Wishaw) decides to walk out on her. She perseveres in the face of increasingly strong resistance from the authorities, ending up being arrested, beaten and literally left on the road to fend for herself.

As peaceful protests appear to prove ineffective, and the government response becomes more intense and brutal, Maud alongside fellow firebrand suffragette Mrs. Ellyn, (Helena Bonham Carter) and a number of the other suffragettes go underground and decide to hit back with force so that the government will take action. The suffragette role model is campaign founder Emmeline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep) who is in hiding and addresses her suffragette’s at odd hours to avoid the police action. She advises all her supporters to take courage and that life could be different, and that “deeds not words” will change things.

The finale shows suffragette Emily Davison, who famously flung herself under the king’s horse at the 1913 Epsom Derby, while trying to draw attention to the suffragettes' cause.  The film shows the willingness of the women at that time who risked everything to attain their right to vote.

Bonus features takes us into the making of the film ‘Inside Suffragette’ and ‘Suffragette: Looking Back, Looking Forward’.

Carey Mulligan gives off a beautiful performance, while Meryl Streep doesn’t disappoint.

Rating: ****

Reviewed By Verus Ferreira