Bread & Roses (1993)
Based upon the life of activist and trade unionist (and later MP) Sonja Davies. The film covers her life up to 1956, when, at age 33, she was elected to the Nelson Hospital Board. During this period she develops strong socialist beliefs, marries and divorces, at age 17 trains as a nurse, has a romance (and a child) with an American marine who is killed in WWII action. She battles tuberculosis and marries a former boyfriend when he returns from the war. She becomes part of a women's ill-fated campaign to save the Nelson railway line from closure and begins to be elected to political bodies.
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Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible
Disapointment
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
The details listed here show this to be only 90+ minutes (USA), but in NZ it ran over several nights on television and made quite a strong impression on viewers. Made on a budget smaller than some 30-second tv ads, it is still full of solid performances, and it tells an interesting story of a real woman whose life experiences were quite extraordinary.A particularly apt film for people interested in the early years of the women's movement and/or the Labour Party.