Alice Paul - The way into the light
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Alice Paul - The way into the light |
| Original title | Iron Jawed Angels |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 2004 |
| length | 125 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Katja von Garnier |
| script |
Jennifer Friedes Raymond Singer |
| production | HBO Films |
| music |
Johnny Klimek , Reinhold Heil |
| camera | Robbie Greenberg |
| cut | Hans Funck |
| occupation | |
| |
Alice Paul - The Path into Light is a documentary fiction film by the German director Katja von Garnier from 2004 . It deals with the story of the American women campaigners for women's suffrage and two of their activists, Alice Paul and Lucy Burns , from 1912 to 1920.
The film is not based directly on the book Iron Jawed Angels (like the English film title) by Linda Ford from 1991, although a similar story is told there. The title of the book and the original title of the film both refer to the name the US press gave to the suffragettes when it became known what bravery they had shown during their incarceration.
action
Alice Paul and Lucy Burns have just returned to the United States. They had spent some time in England, where they supported the struggle of the English suffragettes. Now they are involved in the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) (German: National American Women's Suffrage Association ). However, they quickly realize that their ideas are too radical for the established activists there, above all Carrie Chapman Catt . So they leave the NAWSA and founded the National Woman's Party (NWP) (dt .: National Women's Party ), which is much more radical in the fight for women's rights begins.
Over time, tensions between the NWP and NAWSA grow as its chairman has sharply criticized the NWP's actions, such as direct protest against President Woodrow Wilson and vigils in front of the White House . The relationship between the US government and the NWP also deteriorated dramatically when many of the women's rights activists were arrested, convicted and imprisoned under extreme conditions on flimsy pretexts for their activities.
Alice Paul and several other women go on a hunger strike in prison , to which the prison authorities respond by brutally force-feeding the women. However, with the help of Senator Thomas Leighton, who is married to Emily Leighton, who is also in prison and who was initially a sharp opponent of the suffragettes, the women manage to smuggle a cashier out of prison. This made the press aware of the extreme prison conditions of the women and reported critically. Even the previously cautious NAWSA with Carrie Chapman Catt at the helm is now openly opposed to Wilson and his policies.
Wilson gives in under political pressure and the US Congress passes the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution , which guarantees women the right to vote. The President justified this in his public address with the social achievement that American women had shown for the state in the Great War .
The imprisoned women's rights activists are released, the judgments against them are later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court .
Production and publication
Alice Paul - The Way into the Light was a widescreen television production by the cable broadcaster HBO and was shown at various events in American cinemas. In Germany, Iron Jawed Angels (original title) a. a. Originally presented with subtitles at the Berlinale 2005. In March 2006 it premiered in German synchronization under the title Alice Paul - Der Weg ins Licht .
Reviews
Alice Paul - The way into the light was almost consistently received positively to enthusiastically in the American press. In particular, the tense plot and the modern editing technique , which sometimes gives the impression of a video clip , was well received by the critics. The unanimous opinion is that the film also appeals to young people who would not find a purely documentary film very much.
The film-dienst writes in its 13/2007 issue:
- Film about the suffragette Alice Paul (1885–1977). Together with her friend Lucy Burns and other like-minded women, she is fighting for nationwide suffrage for women and is not discouraged by brutal countermeasures. The overly didactic and simplistic script turns into an exciting and entertaining insight into the history of female emancipation thanks to the charismatic actresses.
Awards
In 2005 the film was nominated for the Golden Globe for best television film. Anjelica Huston received the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a TV movie in 2005 for her portrayal of Carrie Ann Chapman .
photos
These historical images from the USA were implemented in film scenes:
Suffragette parade in Washington DC, 1913
Inez Millholland Boissevain, Suffragette Parade in Washington DC, 1913
Vigil in front of the White House
Vigil in front of the White House
Protest poster against Wilson
The 19th Amendment to the Constitution
literature
- Linda G. Ford: Iron-Jawed Angels. The Suffrage Militancy of the National Woman's Party 1912-1920. Lanham, New York, London 1991: University Press of America.