Made in Dagenham (Nigel Cole, 2010)

The subject of the women machinists' 1968 strike at Ford's Dagenham plant would seem tailor-made for Ken Loach, having been a defining moment in the history of gender equality, with the women's stand against wage discrimination leading shortly after to a permanent change in legislation. If Loach did choose to sidestep it, it's understandable: even activists have to take a breather sometimes. So we get Cole as the helm instead, who brings pretty much the same bag of ingredients to this as he did with Calendar Girls, with a cast of mutually supportive women from all parts of the age and class spectrums united in a common cause.
It's all very chest-swellingly feelgood and full of comic-tinged turns designed to gratify, from Miranda Richardson's ballsy Barbara Castle to Bob Hoskins as a token male old Trot thrilled at the women's politicisation. On the other hand, as the leader of the protesters and focal point, Sally Hawkins is required to carry the scenes of human interest drama too, and unfortunately has to get by on a lot of squeaking bravely when the script lets her down. Still, you'd have to have a heart of stone to remain unstirred by the message.

6/10