Iron Jawed Angels

Most of us know that the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, however, few know the courageous story of how that came to pass. The film, Iron Jawed Angels, is closely based on "second string" suffragists Alice Paul and Lucy Burns who were the front-runners to the movement in the early 1900's.Paul (Oscar winner Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby) and Burns (actress Frances O'Connor, Mansfield Park) are beautiful, educated, and ready to inform anyone who will listen to their cause. The two begin campaigning for women's suffrage using modern tactics, such as: marching, pubic speaking, creating controversial leaflets, picketing, and eventually dramatic hunger strikes to get their message heard.

The film is highly stylized and energetic, and has some funky music infused into the soundtrack to give it a modern feel (Sarah McLachlan and Lauryn Hill are just a few to listen for). With wonderful supporting performances by Angelica Huston (Ever After), Julia Ormond (Legends of the Fall), and Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Iron Jawed Angels is an important and enthralling film that every woman must see. "Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity." Happy viewing!