The Iron Lady (2011)

An elderly Margaret Thatcher talks to the imagined presence of her recently deceased husband as she struggles to come to terms with his death while scenes from her past life, from girlhood to British prime minister, intervene.

Director:

Phyllida Lloyd

Writer:

Abi Morgan (screenplay)

Stars:

Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent, Richard E. Grant

Won 2 Oscars. Another 23 wins & 47 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep	...	Margaret Thatcher
Jim Broadbent	...	Denis Thatcher
Susan Brown	...	June - Housekeeper
Alice da Cunha	...	Cleaner
Phoebe Waller-Bridge	...	Susie - Margaret's Secretary
Iain Glen	...	Alfred Roberts
Alexandra Roach	...	Young Margaret Thatcher
Victoria Bewick	...	Muriel Roberts
Emma Dewhurst	...	Beatrice Roberts
Olivia Colman	...	Carol Thatcher
Harry Lloyd	...	Young Denis Thatcher
Sylvestra Le Touzel	...	Hostess 1949
Michael Culkin	...	Host 1949
Stephanie Jacob	...	Female Guest 1949
Robert Portal	...	Grey Suited Guest - 1949

Storyline

Elderly and a virtual prisoner in her own home due to her concerned staff and daughter Carol, Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first woman prime minister, looks back on her life as she clears out her late husband Denis's clothes for the Oxfam shop. Denis is seen as being her rock as she first enters parliament and then runs for the leadership of the Conservative Party, culminating in her eventual premiership. Now his ghost joins her to comment on her successes and failures, sometimes to her annoyance, generally to her comfort until ultimately, as the clothes are sent to the charity shop, Denis departs from Margaret's life forever.

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Plot Keywords:

politics | 10 downing street london | old woman | old age | conservative party | 

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Taglines:

Never compromise

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violent images and brief nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

It was reported that Margaret Thatcher never saw the film in her lifetime. She died from a stroke in 2013, aged 88, two years after the film was released.

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Goofs

In 1990, her final year as Prime Minister, Thatcher refers to the European Union. At that time it was known as the EEC (European Economic Community) or, less formally, the European Community. It became the European Union in 1993, when all member countries ratified the Maastricht Treaty.

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Quotes

Margaret Thatcher: "How do you feel?" / "Oh, I don't feel comfortable." / "Oh, I'm so sorry, we the group, we're feeling..." Do you know, one of the greatest problems of our age is that we are governed by people who care more about feelings than they do about thoughts and ideas? Now, thoughts and ideas, that interests me.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Iron Lady Garden: Vote Snatcher (2012)

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Soundtracks

Well Tempered Clavier: Prelude in C Major
(Johann Sebastian Bach (as JS Bach))
Performed by Daniel Barenboim
Licensed courtesy of Warner Music UK Limited

User Reviews

A wonderful study of declining years.

I watched the Iron Lady last night and quite frankly I am amazed at some of the reviews which state that the film is a disappointment despite an outstanding performance from Meryl Streep. Firstly, I really don't think that this film is about politics and naturally all those who viewed it expecting to see a retrospective of Margarets time as PM would be disappointed. But the film is about life. All of us could,in time , suffer in the same way. The film is clearly about the ravages of old age on a person who literally was a giant among men. She had to fight at every turn for her principles and whether you agreed with them or not she had more courage than most. The greatest compliment I can make about this film is that from the first few minutes I was not watching Meryl Streep but Thatcher herself as her performance is truly amazing. It isn't the fact that it is an impression as some have said it is the subtle nuances - movement of the head, a slight cough, a look etc. It isn't surprising that she has been Oscar nominated for this performance and in my view she will win hands down. If you want to see a well constructed study of life in decline go see this film but if you're looking for a biopic of her life in power don't bother.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [UK]

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 January 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Iron Lady

Filming Locations:

Wimbledon Film and Television Studios, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$220,409, 1 January 2012

Gross USA:

$30,017,992

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$115,890,699

Company Credits

Production Co:

DJ Films, Pathé, Film4

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1