IRON JAWED ANGELS

US, 2004, 116 minutes, Colour.
Hillary Swank, Frances O’ Connor, Julia Ormond, Molly Parker, Anjelica Huston, Patrick Dempsey, Bob Gunton, Laura Fraser, Vera Farmiga, Lois Smith, Margo Martindale, Joseph Adams, Carrie Snodgress.
Directed by Katija von Grenier.

Iron Jawed Angels is a strong television film about women’s suffrage in the United States.

Audiences will be sympathetic to the group of women who were so influential in extending the vote to women throughout many of the states of America and were instrumental in changing the Constitution. They were nicknamed by a journalist The Iron Jawed Angels and were not sure whether this was a compliment or a criticism.

The film was directed by Katija von Grenier, a German director who made the feminist women’s escape film, Bandits (1997) and the horror film made in Romania, Blood and Chocolate (2007). The film has a very strong case with Hillary Swank at her best as Alice Paul, a leader in the suffragist movement (who died in 1977). Frances O’ Connor is excellent as her friend Lucy Burns. Julia Ormond has a role as Inez, a figurehead of the movement, in the protests dressed in armour and riding a horse. Molly Parker is a timid senator’s wife who resists the movement but eventually is prepared to go to prison against the wishes of her senator husband (Joseph Adams). Anjelica Huston is very strong as the head of the National Women’s Movement assisted by Lois Smith. Also amongst the suffragist movement are Laura Fraser and Vera Farmiga. There is a touch of the romantic interest with Patrick Dempsey as a cartoonist for the Washington Post. Bob Gunton portrays President Woodrow Wilson – who does not emerge well from the film because of his opposition to the votes for women.

The film creates the period very well, Washington, travelling throughout the land for rights. Costumes and décor are meticulous. However, it is the history of the period from 1912 to 1920 that is of interest. The film focuses on the inauguration of Woodrow Wilson and the parade, interrupted brutally by the police, at his inauguration. There are campaigns against him, protests and demonstrations outside the White House, even when America went to war and patriotism turned against the women. There are very sobering scenes as several of the women are arrested, interned in a workhouse, humiliated, even tortured, especially Alice Paul and her going on a hunger strike and being force-fed.

There is a sense of triumph, however, when Wilson supports the vote and, in 1920, Tennessee is the last state to approve women’s suffrage.

The film is interesting in the 21st century with its focus on the fight for women’s rights – and a reflection on the continued fight in many areas (not less the churches).

1.The impact of the film? Interest, entertainment, challenge? Equality issues? Women’s vote as a symbol for equality and rights? In institutions, government, organisations, churches? The role of men, assumptions about women, intelligence, rights, their place in the home? Issues of power?

2.The title, the journalistic phrase, compliment or criticism? Audience sympathies with the women?

3.The history of suffrage, the assumptions about women, votes in the 19th century, New Zealand in 1893? The United States, Lincoln and freedom for the slaves, the slow progress through the states, the need for amending the Constitution, Woodrow Wilson’s refusal, the political advice, the protests in 1913, the issue of World War One and America’s involvement and women’s rights? The votes in the states? The achievement by 1920? As seen in retrospect?

4.The women’s movements, the suffragettes in the United Kingdom and their protest? America, the National League, strong women, committees, lobbying politicians, lobbying President Wilson? Alice Paul and Lucy Burns and the next generation? Their ideas, protests, fundraising, newspapers, political advice, demonstrations, prison, the witness to their cause?

5.The introduction to Alice and Lucy, as girls, friends, meeting in England, the issue of the hat, Lucy and her always tossing a coin for decisions? Going to meetings, meeting the national committee and the leading women? Discussions with them, moving to Washington, the plan for the protest at the inauguration in 1913? The premises in Washington, dingy, tidying up, the furniture, going out into the streets, campaigning, the questions to the passers-by, donations, people eager, people indifferent, people timid? The African American woman and the issue of marching as peers, the protests of the south? Emily, with her children, the senator’s wife, her apprehensiveness, later giving the donations? The bar, meeting Ben and Inez? Inez, the parade, dressed as a heroine, on the horse? The parade and the floats? Wilson and his wife, their commenting on the lack of people at the parade? The angers, the men, throwing objects, the police ignoring, the fights, the police involvement, the violence? The committee’s reaction in horror? The newspapers on the side of the women, criticising the police? Alice and her sense of achievement with the protest?

6.President Wilson, as a person, president, his politics, Democrats? His receiving the delegation of women, their outspokenness? His refusal? The range of advisers and their opinions? The senator, symbol of the opposition, his relationship with his wife, children, the issue of her allowance, her donations, her name appearing in the paper, her husband confronting her, restricting her? His announcement of the outbreak of war?

7.Alice and Lucy, Lucy, her personality, chatter, lonely? Alice and meeting Ben and Inez, Ben and his cartoons, the attraction, her wanting to get to his editor, the dinner with his son, his being a widower? The politics, meals, Ben taking her out, teaching her to dance, the kiss, Alice and the sensuality and the bath scene? Her celibacy and her vocation? Ben and his relationship with Doris? Alice’s reactions?

8.Alice and the fundraising, getting the celebrities like Helen Keller, the money collected, the paper, the reaction of the committee, Carrie’s reaction, the proposal, the vote, the dilemma for Lucy and Alice? To separate or collaborate?

9.The anti-Wilson campaign? The outbreak of the war, Inez and the war campaign? Her wanting to say no to the tour, Alice persuading her to go, her speeches, collapse, death? Alice blaming herself, retiring to the farm, her discussions with her mother?

10.America and the entry into the war, Wilson and the initial resistance, the change in climate, the role of the women’s protest in the context of the war?

11.Emily, wanting to tell her husband about her donations, her deciding to go to the picket line, participating? His taking the children away? The talk of custody?

12.The war, the picket line, the banners, the quotations from Wilson’s speeches, the scuffles, the abuse, the arrests, the charge of obstructing traffic, the big number of women in the court? Emily criticised by her husband for being there with the children?

13.Doris, her place in the group, support, her friendship with Ben, her fears, joining in the protests? The worker from the factory, Alice’s image of the fire escape and women’s rights and the votes, her participation, translation from her European languages? The arrest of the women, Lucy and her anger, the prison, the humiliation, clothes, the food, the workhouse, the attitude of the authorities, the matron, the men?

14.Mabel, her role as secretary, her managing all the details? Her concern about Alice?

15.Alice, the decision to go on the picket, her arrest, the treatment, wanting the window open and breaking it, being put in solitude, the hunger strike, being force-fed, her illness, passing the notes – and the help of the matron?

16.The senator, visiting Emily, his shock, her giving him the note, the newspapers, the reports, Wilson and his advisers considering what was to be done, the harshness of the prison authorities, the torture?

17.The women free, resuming their campaign, the ending of the war? Carrie and her visits to the president, her smooth talk, her calm threats, her ultimatum?

18.Wilson and his speech in Congress, the vote, Carrie giving a seat for Alice to sit down? The mutual respect?

19.1920, the vote in Tennessee, the group in Washington listening, the phone call, the member and the note from his mother, his voting in favour?

20.The ending, the review of the women and their participation in the movement, the close-ups? The exhilaration? Their achievement?

21.The relevance of this campaign to similar campaigns in succeeding decades? The continuing issue of equality of rights for women, in the workplace, churches, institutions…?