Movie: The Iron Lady (2011)

In a few words, this movie is not worth watching except for the commendable performance by Meryl Streep as Thatcher.

Jim Broadbent who played Thatcher’s husband Dennis Thatcher said something like the following:

“When I heard that an American actress was to play Thatcher, I thought, ‘Huh, is that okay?’ I didn’t have high expectations. However, when I shared supper with Meryl after we started filming and when she casually mixed a British accent into conversations, I felt that perhaps she can play Thatcher after all.”

I don’t think he said that with mean intentions. Broadbent has co-starred with many great British actresses and has received high honors as a great actor such as an Oscar and Golden Globe Awards; Broadbent did not blindly believe the praise by Hollywood of Meryl being “the best actress in the world” and seemed to have been observing her with an attitude of, “Let’s see what you can do.”

Of course Meryl is not stupid. She talks about the resolution to play Thatcher as follows:

“Yes, it was a frightening experience as an actor to perform as Thatcher. But looking at myself as one American actress thrown in among British actors, I found some commonality with Thatcher, a woman fighting alone in the political world in those days, and I gained the courage to play her.”

Scenes of Meryl looking very much like Thatcher and giving speeches are scattered throughout the movie trailer. Since Thatcher has been both criticized and praised, I was eager to see how the producer would interpret Thatcher’s great achievements in fighting the downfall of the United Kingdom and show her essence. To my dismay, unlike the trailer implies, the movie shows very little of Thatcher as a politician and the major part of the movie depicts Thatcher suffering from dementia after her retirement.

This movie should be called “The Teacup-Washing Lady” instead of “The Iron Lady”. In her younger days, Thatcher had quipped, “I will never be one of those women…I cannot die washing up a teacup!” In the final scene, Thatcher in her old age is alone in her kitchen, silently washing a teacup. Once the most known female face in the United Kingdom, no one recognizes her when she goes shopping. In essence, this movie seems to want to mean-spiritedly say, “Look at her doing what she once said she would never do. Hahaha!” and, “Washing teacups alone every day… A fitting end for not prioritizing family and neglecting the family you had.” Why must career woman Thatcher who served the United Kingdom be judged in this way? I wonder why the left-wing party, which supports the independence of women, doesn’t complain. According to Thatcher supporters, this movie is a left-wing conspiracy to undermine Thatcher’s legacy. I see.

Clever Meryl Streep said something like the following:

“I think it’s wonderful to grow old. The reason is I suddenly discover new nuances to things I didn’t understand or had overlooked until now. For example, the act of washing a teacup can be a precious moment of life, which only the aged person can understand.”

Meryl certainly plays roles in better and better movies as she ages. There is the criticism that only young and beautiful and glamorous actresses are given roles in Hollywood, but Meryl seems to be like a publicity billboard for Hollywood that says that Hollywood isn’t so narrow-minded. Because better roles go to her one after another, actresses of the same generation, such as Diane Keaton, Sally Field, and Glenn Close—especially Glenn Close who has a similar range of acting and ambiance—have their roles snatched away and it’s a pity. However, since Meryl built her secure position in Hollywood through self-restraint, politeness towards colleagues, and extraordinary efforts, I can let it slide.

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