Setting the movie during Margaret Thatcher’s later years when she is no longer in office and is really personally choosing to avoid much public contact seems a rather cruel directorial choice for such a charismatic, vibrant, capable and beautiful women. Denis Thatcher, her husband, successful businessman, companion and ardent supporter is played admirably by Jim Broadbent, but for most of the movie he is portrayed as a loveable buffoon. We see Denis as an aged, entertaining apparition of Margaret’s reminiscence. Denis and Maggieshare a number of ‘seniors’ moments’. He admonishes her for drinking too much, not noticing him, and she because he is incapable of managing to make toast. Thankfully, neither of them took out their teeth. It is a sort of ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ experience Lloyd has orchestrated. The Thatcher family’s dismay is understandable.

One of the strongest aspects of the movie is the use of documentary/newsreel footage to capture the civil uprisings such as the miners’ strikes and the use of Falklands war footage. There are brief interludes where Margaret Thatcher’s strength shines through in the several narrow escapes from death by bombing, attacks by crowds, the press and treachery in the political mine field. Flashbacks of Margaret as a young woman and young mother are lovely as well and they certainly help make the feeble, older version concocted for the screen more palatable.

I was concerned that my adverse reaction to ‘Iron Lady’ was too strong but discovered it is one genuinely shared by many. Ageism and feminism have not been well served. Kudos to Margaret Thatcher as she continues to shine as a remarkable woman, leader, feminist and politician, no matter what is thrown at her.

Meryl Streep swept the awards for Best Actress with her outstanding performance in the role of Margaret Thatcher, winning an Oscar, a BAFTA and a Golden Globe in 2012.

I also recommend the reviews by:

The Gazette (Montreal)

http://www.montrealgazette.com/Janet+Bagnall+Iron+Lady+good+women/6020710/story.html

The London’s Daily Mail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2085368/Margaret-Thatcher-The-Iron-Lady-ultimate-womens-libber.html

Moira Romano