Bird's Eye View

BEVers Review The Iron Lady dir. Phyllida Lloyd

January’s big new release is high-profile Brit filmmaker Phyllida Lloyd‘s biopic of Margaret Thatcher The Iron Lady. Written by Abi Morgan (Brick Lane, Shame, BBC’s The Hour) it’s on release in your local cinema. We urge you to see it and join the vociferous debate among its admirers and critics, suitably so given its subject. Last month Nest Members had the opportunity to attend an industry preview of the film, with thanks to distributors Pathe, and we asked them to review it for BEV followers. Read on for your friends’ and colleagues’ opinions of a controversial work!

Birds Eye View Nest Member Caroline Burns Cooke:

Despite the general consensus that Milk Snatcher (aka the UK’s first female PM!) has been given not so much the soft- soap treatment as more of a total whitewash in Phyllida Lloyd’s recent release The Iron Lady, it might be useful to look at that name. Phyllida Lloyd. Mamma Mia. Oliver Stone’s Nixon it ain’t. However, Lloyd has created an empathetic portrayal of one woman’s impressive rise through the ranks of a male- dominated Tory party through the prism of Margaret Thatcher’s probable dementia, and the flashback structure is both effective, moving and refracted, albeit conveniently, through an unreliable narrator/mind.

Of course, for example, her close friendship with Airey Neave, car-bombed by the IRA, leads swiftly to the Grand Hotel atrocity so by the time we get to her protracted refusal to compromise with elected MP Bobby Sands and the rest of the H Block Hunger Strikers we are expected to understand poor Margaret’s point of view.Pace sinking the Belgrano – a triumph of overarching patriotism it seems, and one we should approve if only for her utter commitment in the face of opposition.

From an artistic POV, having made a film myself where I play Myra Hindley, it’s almost impossible to tell a 1st person story, whoever the “monster” portrayed, without humanising in some way, and rightly so. Law has succeeded here. She has also made an extremely entertaining and well-paced film, superbly performed by all concerned. Streep is amazing, but I loved the entire cabinet, not to mention daft old Denis and poor, disappointed Carol. God help me, I make them sound like The Royle Family. They’re not, but they’re not the Borgias either.

One would be ill-advised to encourage a miner or a Falkland Islands widow to see it, but at the very least it cleansed my horrific memory of the sainted Meryl in dungarees and menopausal hen-party mode in their last collaboration, and for that I am truly grateful.

BEV Nest Member Aurora Fearnley:

The Iron Lady is an intimate and delicate film that focuses on Mrs Thatcher’s ageing mind coming to terms with her past decisions, the core theme being reflection. I was expecting an engaging film exploring one of the most formidable characters of 20th Century politics. I was met with a “life and times” which skips lightly through historical events without giving great depth instead choosing a character’s study route. Here Meryl Streep is a complete triumph as Margret Thatcher portraying her renowned characteristics with an uncanny ability showcasing the strength and diamond perception decision making while in power and the stubborn and steadfast elderly woman we see today. While sombre in mood and tackling the challenging topics of loneliness at old age, the exceptional Jim Broadbent offers comic relief as Margret’s deceased husband who keeps her company and questions her own grip on reality. Streep delivers far beyond expectation and is captivating from start to finish.

BEV Nest Member Alexandra Metaxa:

Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher was astounding. The supporting cast was also exceptional, in particular Harry Lloyd as a young Denis Thatcher. The narrative flowed seamlessly between Thatcher’s private life and events in the public eye, moving backwards and forwards through the ages, each era beautifully evoked. Whilst leaving the cinema, I overheard one of the viewers complaining that it had been an over-sentimental portrayal of the life of a woman that had truly shaken up British politics and life in the United Kingdom. Due to the subject matter I expect this movie to evoke a good deal of controversy. Regardless, from a non-Brit’s perspective, I found it to be an excellent portrayal of a huge personality from a never seen before point of view.

Thank you, Caroline, Aurora and Alexandra. Remember, join the Nest today and you’ll be next to receive special offers and exclusive screenings, as well as the chance to see your review online!

BEV film critic Sonia Zadurian gives us her full review of the film:

After the phenomenal financial success of musical sensation Mamma Mia (2008), director Phyllida Llyod has unconventionally turned her attentions to a biopic of controversial former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Written by Abi Morgan (Brick Lane 2007, Shame 2011) and starring Meryl Streep as Thatcher,The Iron Lady is a resoundingly female affair which focuses on Thatcher as a female pioneer fighting against the injustice of an overwhelmingly male political system.  However, as the saying almost goes, with the portrayal of great political power comes great responsibility.

The film begins with an old Thatcher pottering around in her home, engaging in discussions with her dead husband. It then interweaves flashbacks of her former life before and after her time as prime minister, beginning with snapshots of her youth spent helping in her father’s shop, continuing on to her years in office and culminating with her resignation in 1990. The political events of the film in flashback communicate a fierce strength in the face of opposition and are set against the backdrop of a tender relationship with husband Denis (Jim Broadbent), whilst her activity in the present day conveys her continuing attachment to the deceased Denis, increasingly frail body and unstable mind.

All critique of The Iron Lady must begin and end with the harshest praise imaginable for Streep. With a level of performance which transcends the usual boundaries between well-known actor and the role they attempt to embody, Streep gives one of her finest performances of recent years as she moves seamlessly between the younger and older Thatcher. It is immediately apparent that whatever an audience’s response to the film may be, they will unanimously agree with the power of Streep’s craft. Undoubtedly an Academy Award frontrunner, Streep has taken on the challenge of portraying a key figure in political history and emerged unequivocally victorious.

The Iron Lady is a solid biopic, with some wonderfully edited transitions between past and present. Often triggered by keywords or images in the present day, the flashbacks are smooth and relevant, reflecting not only her troubled mental state but also the political climate of today. The use of original footage grounds the film and offers a slightly wider political perspective than that of the tightly wound drama, whilst the touching relationship between Thatcher and her husband is tenderly handled and helps to provide the political figure with a strong personal backstory. Though the film’s political standpoint may come under severe scrutiny from both the left and right, it is extremely well-crafted and engaging throughout.

When it comes to the issues and themes which are covered in the film, it is clear that the focus remains on Thatcher’s struggle and eventual recognition by many as a woman who triumphed in the face of powerful male prejudice. Throughout the film, viewers are privy to sequences which reinforce this, such as her response to a marriage proposal, her first day in parliament and a present day dinner party in which a grateful female guest thanks Thatcher for being an inspiration. The continuous insistence upon this issue will no doubt be the source of much praise and criticism, as the emphasis is most definitely placed away from the important political issues which were crucial to her time in office. However, regardless of political opinion, Thatcher’s triumph at becoming the first woman in this particular position of power and the key ramifications which this had on her professional and private lives are undeniable. These elements are successfully and poignantly communicated throughout The Iron Lady.

The political standpoint of the film has already been called into question by both the left and right, with each side protesting that it favours the other. After viewingThe Iron Lady it is clear that, although neither side can be entirely satisfied, those leaning towards the right have much more reason to be. The first third of the film is resolutely positive in its portrayal, as the focus remains on the character’s admirable traits; determination, strength and courage in the face of adversity. The breaking point for some may be a depiction of Thatcher’s first speech as prime minister in 1979. Here we are privy to a shortened version of the speech which is constructed similarly to actual footage of the event. However, the mixture of cheering and booing that can be heard on the original footage is entirely whitewashed over by non-diegetic trumpeting which heralds her arrival and glorifies Thatcher in a way which we absolutely know to be false. Whilst the film does show snippets of brutality and unrest, the focus is placed firmly on the courage of the character’s convictions, rather than actions and consequences.

The last third of the film appears to overturn the work of the first few, as the character becomes monstrous in her megalomania. In one particular sequence, she overrules the opinions of her advisors and proceeds to tear her cabinet to pieces. The camera cowers beneath a severely attired Streep, forcing the viewer to fear her whilst understanding that she is completely out of control. The following sequence sees Streep dressed in formal attire that can only be described as witch-like, and whitened in a disturbingly macabre fashion. In short, the film’s depiction of Thatcher is comprised of extremes, which are abruptly separated where they could have been seamlessly woven.

Audience opinion of the film will most definitely be divided, but ultimately any approval of Thatcher’s character will depend not only on a viewer’s political affiliations but also their own personal definition of a biopic. Mainstream fiction film is a slave to its narrative, often taking certain necessary liberties with the truth in the name of cohesion. However, it can also be argued that when dealing with the actions of such a key figure in British political history, the film itself becomes something of a historical artifact and must therefore strictly adhere to what we know to be true.

Though the film will split audiences, it is a solidly entertaining and frequently heartbreaking story which is elegantly put together and filtered almost solely through one of the most standout performances of recent years.

The Iron Lady is currently on general release. Click here to find out where and when in a cinema near you. To find out more about becoming a member of The Nest, click here.