A group of women hatch a plan to disrupt the 1970 Miss World beauty competition in London.
Philippa Lowthorpe directs Kiera Knightley, Jessie Buckley, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw in “Misbehaviour” based on the true story of the women who dared to interrupt the 1970 Miss World hosted by Bob Hope (Greg Kinnear) in order to draw attention to the equal rights movement. Writer Rebecca Frayn develops an engaging story line as she introduces us to our three main characters individually and then gradually their lives intersect in monumental ways. Sally Alexander (Knightley) is a determined, straight forward young woman set on getting a graduate degree despite her circumstances of being a single mom and living with her boyfriend. Jo Robinson (Buckley) leads a group of protestors who are always being chased by the police, and Jennifer Huston (Mbatha-Raw) is a contestant in Miss World as Miss Grenada. The three women couldn’t be any more different, but their stories all lead to the explosive finale and help give momentum to the women’s movement.
“Misbehaviour” is a compelling story with exceptional performances. Perfectly cast, these women, directed with skill by Lowthorpe, allows us to not only learn about recent history but also connect with and better understand how women have fought for equal rights. Knightley who never shies away from portraying women who are not glamorous but who have impacted our world, shines as Alexander. Buckley fits right in as the rebellious young woman, hell-bent on radically changing the world and Mbatha-Raw’s sheer power strikes you, waking you to the plight not just of women but a Black woman. And if you were a fan of Bob Hope, Kinnear sheds a new light on this comedian who’s reputation is less than solid.
“Misbehaviour,” with costuming and set design to punctuate the era, finds just the right pacing to tell this important and true story. It’s quite angering to watch what happened in England nearly 5 decades ago as you realize that here in the U.S., we women are still not considered equal. With the passing of the indomitable RBG, there’s no better time to watch this film and be reminded of how she fought for our rights, but the fight must go on. 4 Stars
Chuck says:
There’s a great deal going on in Philippa Lowthorpe’s “Misbehaviour.” Single mom Sally Alexander (Keira Knightley) is trying to get into a well-respected college while raising her own daughter under the disapproving eye of her own mother. She also helps form the Women’s Liberation Movement, an organization that includes the firebrand Jo Robinson (Jesse Buckley), who’s all behind the organization’s plan to make a big statement – crash the 1970 Miss World beauty pageant. The organizer of the contest, Eric Morley (Rhys Ifans), is hoping to make a big splash as well as he’s secured Bob Hope (Greg Kinnear) as the host. Oh, then there’s the matter of all the contestants, particularly Jennifer Hosten (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who doesn’t see the pageant as an antiquated sexist affair but rather as a way for her to set an example for young girls in her native Grenada, to show them there are avenues to a better life.
Without question, the late 1960’s and early 1970’s were tumultuous times, something Lowthrope is intent on capturing in her new film, a noble but scattered enterprise that praises a group of British feminists who were intent on upsetting the status quo. It’s a story worth telling, populated by a myriad of fascinating characters but ultimately the director’s well-intended reach exceeds her grasp. While writer Rebecca Frayn does her level best to do the story and its heroines justice, there’s simply too many moving parts here to cover adequately in a single movie. A four-hour mini-series would have given Lowthrope the time necessary to adequately delve into the lives of these remarkable women; that being said, this Cliff’s Notes approach is not without its charm. 2 ½ Stars.
