Mothers of the Revolution: Movie Review

In 1980s Britain, the threat of the Cold War's nuclear endgame hung terrifyingly over everyone's daily routine.

Public address videos discussed what could be done in the 4 minute warning period, British artists like Raymond Briggs told tales such as "When the Wind Blows" and a general atmosphere of impending end times accosted most lives.

Director Briar March's latest looks at how the mothers of the time addressed these global fears, with the UK slap bang in the middle of the firing line between Russia and the US. 

Centring on a quartet of women who had become new mothers, and who were worried by the threat of nuclear war, March uses current day reflective interviews and footage from the time, as well as some illustrated interludes, to fashion a documentary that's as much about the salutation of the chorus of the downtrodden, as it is yet another shameful examination of the toxic masculinity espoused by authority figures from the past.

Galvanised by the arrival of cruise missiles on UK shores, the women began a peaceful protest march from Cardiff in Wales to Greenham Common, to demonstrate not everyone is happy about what's transpiring. What March does, via a combination of talking heads and archive footage, is create a picture of a movement that was naive but headstrong in its plans and was dismissed as "cleaners" when they arrived at the base.

March also captures lightning in a bottle, exploring how media obsessions over Diana's wedding and a panda failed to seize on the fears of the public, and whose exploration of events at Greenham Common where the protests became centred proved them to be one-sided. 

At times, Mothers of the Revolution feels like a spy film, with punkish vibes and spitting soundtrack fashioning proceedings; in others, the shocking treatment of the women at the hands of police investigators is appalling but sadly expected. 

March carefully constructs the narrative to ensure a non-preachy approach to the story of the peace movement, and as a result, this careful treading of the lines means Mothers of the Revolution has more power than a didactic history lesson.

With a message of "Don't think you're too little to do big things," Mothers of The Revolution is a stirring call to arms, and a calm and measured exploration of a little saluted movement that truly changed the world.