CH-CH-CH-CHANGES // A FILM REVIEW OF "MISBEHAVIOUR"
(Note: This review first appeared on August 14th, 2020 as part of the Bentonville 2020 Film Festival Coverage).
For decades, it has been completely normal to look down upon a woman, to treat them less than a man, and it has certainly been the backwards logic view of many that women are not worthy to stand side-by-side with men when hiring for jobs, paying salaries, and measuring self-worth. It's a terrible mindset that we are still dealing with as a society today. In 1970 a group of women (the newly created "Women's Liberation Movement") made a decision to interrupt one of the most celebrated, and in their minds sexist, gatherings around - The Miss World Competition (held in London's Royal Albert Hall) and make a statement. To call out the sexist tropes of society. At the same time, this is also the year history was made by crowning the first Black winner of Miss World. In one evening, the world's feminist movement took hold of the patriarchy and two Black women came in first and second place, causing and uproar among white viewers and empowering young girls of color at home. Both inspired young women for generations to come.
MISBEHAVIOUR tells both of these stories. Switching between perspectives, those of the pageant contestants and those of the Women's Liberation Movement, it brightly tells the tale of both sides. Keira Knightley is Sally Alexander, a progressive Londoner who dreams of making a difference. Her life is solid. She has a beautiful young girl and a loving boyfriend. But her conservative Mother (Phyllis Logan) doesn't like her progressive thinking and wants her to be a housewife, find a husband and make a family. To do what a woman should do, in her mind. She doesn't want what her mother wants, and sets out for college. There, she is also frustrated by the sexism that she experiences every day.
Jo Robinson (Jessie Buckley) is the de-facto leader of a feminist group, and their plans is to interrupt the Miss World Competition, a competition they deem is dripping with sexism. By a chance encounter, Jo and Sally meet and Sally is invited back to check out the Women's Movement Group. Sally adds a different but complimenting point of view and they all agree they have to be a force inside of the competition, not just outside of the building. So they set up the plan to disrupt Miss World, while inside the walls of the pageant, the Pageant Chief (Rhys Ifans) hastily adds a second contestant from South Africa that isn't white to avoid anti-apartheid protests. He names the original white contestant Miss South Africa and the new contestant (Pearl Janssen, played by Loreece Harrison) Miss Africa South. The other woman of color within the competition who dreams of becoming the first Black winner is Jennifer Hosten, Miss Grenada (Gugu Mbatha-Raw). While a group of white women are ready to point out the sexism of the patriarchy, these two woman, and in particular Miss Hosten, know what their win would mean. To have a young Black girl look on the screen and see a winner who looks like them. Both battles are worth fighting for.
Director Philippa Lowthorpe moves the proceedings with an assured hand and the entire film flows with a spirited spunk. Though it's perhaps not the deep dive some may want, it's a very well-written and thoroughly enjoyable film celebrating the beginning of feminism. Gugu Mbatha-Raw gives a powerful performance, showcasing a determined spirit and strength, ready to show the world exactly who she is. Keira Knightley gives a performance that is charming and assured. The powerful scene near the end where both women finally meet may be an imagined moment, but it's possibly the very best moment in the film and both women shine and complement each other perfectly. Jessie Buckley gives a very fun and spirited performances as the leader of the Women's Movement. The rest of the cast all have strong moments, from Loreece Harrison's touching moments as the bright and self-aware Miss Africa South to Greg Kinnear's sexist and demeaning Bob Hope.
MISBEHAVIOUR is a big and broadly-aimed film that showcases a very important moment in history and serves it with a healthy dose of feel-good British appeal. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
GRADE: A
WRITTEN BY Rebecca Frayn, Gary Chiappe DIRECTED BY Philippa Lowthorpe STARRING Keira Knightley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Rhys Ifans, Greg Kinnear, Jessie Buckley, Keeley Hawes, Lesley Manville, Loreece Harrison, Phyllis Logan. Now playing at digital cinemas everywhere.