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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Undescribable Perfection
Simply A Masterpiece
This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.
Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
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.