Review: Iron Jawed Angels
By Dana Kester-McCabeRecently a preview of this new HBO Film on Quaker Alice Paul was hosted at the Library of Congress.
In “Iron Jawed Angels,” premiering on HBO February 15th, Director Katja von Garnier has created a contemporary portrait of Quaker activist Alice Paul and her friend Lucy Burns during the final struggle for U.S. women’s suffrage. Flashy production values and music tell the story in a way intended to engage girls 18-21 who may be eligible to vote for the first time.
Hilary Swank and Frances O’Connor respectively, portray the suffragettes, as smart, beautiful, funny, and most of all: determined in their mission, willing to endure great suffering. Julia Ormond dons an American accent in a moving performance as Inez Milholland, who perseveres until pernicious anemia makes her a martyr to the cause. Anjelica Huston is the effectively bitchy leader Carrie Chapman Catt, who tries to dismiss the young upstarts, then eventually capitalizes on the momentum created by their innovative and dramatic tactics.
Surprisingly this film harkens back to the “women’s” pictures of the thirties and forties. Clever dialog and important ideas are balanced with the fun loving femininity of the main characters. And, there is the obligatory romance. Patrick Dempsey lights things up as the ultimate feminist catch – “Ben Weissman” who is handsome, sensitive, smart, slightly tragic, and so very modern in his attitudes toward women. He is too good to be true, because he is a fictional character.
Some things never change in Hollywood, though HBO Films president Collin Callender says the film will “blow the doors off” the historical drama genre. Indeed Alice Paul’s rejection of “Weissman’s” advances does include mildly titillating scenes of her masturbating in the bath. She sublimates physical passions for intellectual and spiritual ones. This is a very contemporary treatment, though probably not as shocking as the filmmakers might hope. This presumably helps explain that you need not give up your goals to satisfy the needs of someone else. While it may or may not have been true in regards to Alice Paul, it is a course of action the film producers think today’s young women might accept.
As a Quaker I would have liked to have seen more about Alice Paul’s spiritual grounding. Alice Paul’s identification as a Quaker is treated humorously. “She’s not a radical – she’s a Quaker.” I had thought she had left the Society as an adult. But, according to Quaker historian Margaret Hope Bacon in “Mothers of Feminism”, Paul was a life long member of the Religious Society of Friends, even though they did not always approve of her methods. After arriving in Washington, D.C. in 1912 to pursue her work for the suffragist cause, she rented a room next door to the Quaker Meeting there. In the film, while other people attend church Alice Paul does other things. Though she may have been more focused on activism she likely did not give up Sunday Meeting altogether. But the effect of Friends’ worship and consensus building, which were central to her convictions and her ability to lead, could not have been illustrated in a sexy or hip way. Producers probably thought developing this aspect would distract their target market. Perhaps they underestimate young women. Alice Paul is nonetheless identified as a Quaker icon even if what that really means remains somewhat obscure to the average viewer.
It is perhaps too much to expect that a pop culture rendition of historical characters would display those aspects of a life that are challenging or complicated to comprehend. But an opportunity was missed to truthfully portray the spiritual motivations behind Alice Paul’s actions even in a small or subtle way. Paul is portrayed as condescending to many of the people who could help her most, which may be based on accounts of her strong personality. Her charisma does shine through however. Also typical of other dramatizations about this era, the story of African American suffragists is sadly marginalized with only a two brief mentions.
One scene which does advance the mission to engage young voters would be Paul’s recruitment of downtrodden immigrant factory workers. She explains: “A vote is a fire escape.” When you vote, you have a voice and the power to elect people who will look out for your interests. Today a vote might mean: healthcare, labor, or education reform. It might mean tickets home for our service men and women overseas. Maybe that will be the “fire escape” young women can relate to. But a vote has no meaning until it is actually cast.
In the last general election, estimates were that less than half of all eligible voters participated. Those that did were mostly over the age of forty. This generation is arguably the best educated we’ve ever had. Why are they so disengaged? Hilary Swank, the star of this film, recently confessed to a Washington Post reporter that she had never registered to vote. At the age of 29, she is planning to now, after reading this script. I should hope so! There is still time for her and everyone else to register for the fall general election. Please, Hilary, don’t delay. Set an example in the name of Alice Paul.
If “Iron Jawed Angels,” an admittedly romanticized version of history, helps engage young voters, then more power to it. Despite my criticisms I did enjoy the film and I would recommend it. It is a dynamic, sometimes entertaining picture for an audience interested more in ideas than facts. What does remain true in this film? Women lost jobs, husbands, children, and homes in this cause; but not their sense of humor even though some withstood severe torture for their beliefs. In the years since female enfranchisement, reforms have been enacted that have bettered the lives of everyone, all because of women voters. But there is still more to do. So whether you watch this film or not - get out and vote!
Dana Kester-McCabe is the publisher of Faithful Witness the online journal of the Friends Media project.
Read a printable version of this article.
Posted: 15 Feb 2004