Rent Misbehaviour (2020)

Surprisingly engaging backward look at beauty contests - Misbehaviour review by AW

I enjoy movies based on real events and real people. This film did not disappoint. Although I had arrived from Canada to live in the UK in 1970 I settled in the North and was soon busy bringing up a family. I was chastened to realise how little awareness I had of the beginnings of the Women's Liberation Movement. I was also embarrassed to recall that in the 50's my sister and I had enjoyed watching beauty pageants on TV.

They really were a cattle market and this film reminds us of the reality. We still have a long way to go....

Great story - Misbehaviour review by CM

Really enjoyed this film. Great to reflect on how times have changed in the right direction. Good to be reminded of how the Miss World Contests were run. Well done to those women who infiltrated the contest and made their voices heard peacefully.

Great film and good to see this part of history covered - Misbehaviour review by LS

Well acted and glad to have learnt about this historical milestone in the women’s liberation movement 

Very one-sided - Misbehaviour review by CP Customer

Being an oldie I was around in 1970 so remember many of the protests and interviews of the time.

In my humble opinion this film is over-acted with most of the demonstrators being shown as manic man-hating feminists, plus there's little (any?) mention of the fact that many of the competitors were delighted to be in the contest as it gave them an opportunity to change their lives.

Shame as I was looking forward to it.

Well Balanced and Entertaining Comedy/Drama - Misbehaviour review by GI

This is a very likeable British comedy drama that tells the story of the slightly wacky and bizarre Women's Liberation demonstration at the 1970 Miss World competition. The film has a charm because it plays out neatly balanced between the serious messages and the daftness of the whole thing. Keira Knightly plays Sally, a divorced single mother who has faced the in-depth misogyny in British life in trying to get a place in university. She becomes drawn to Jo (Jessie Buckley), a slightly fanatical feminist and her newly formed Women's Lib' group. Aided by Sally's more balanced approach they design posters and with the announcement of the forthcoming Miss World competition they decide on a demonstration. The odious organiser Eric Morley (Rhys Ifans) has managed to secure Bob Hope (Greg Kinnear) as the presenter but when he publicly ridicules the accusations of sexism Sally and her mates decide on a more radical attack. The film obviously attacks the ludicrous objectification of women's bodies in this 'cattle market' style event but it also, rightly and perfectly, reveals how the beauty competition did much for women of colour in other nations such as South Africa and this is exemplified especially by Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Miss Grenada, who maintains a dignity and moral seriousness in taking part. It also reveals the iconic Bob Hope to be a rather self centred, promiscuous git. This film is not a feminist rant, it alludes to the abuse that was a part of the beauty pageant world and shows the pioneering protest to open the debates on sexism. In that's sense this is a film that works very well indeed. Great support cast too including Keeley Hawes and Lesley Manville. A very enjoyable and well told film.

Both serious and humorous - Misbehaviour review by Helken

I enjoyed "Misbehaviour" when I first saw it, finding myself amused, angry and exhilarated by turns. On second viewing I realised that this was a really well-made film. It evoked the infuriatingly patronising attitudes towards women that were prevalent at the time (I remember them well!) and did so deftly and with humour. And it moved brilliantly between different kinds of male/female and female/female relationships with a very light touch. I didn't find it clunky, I found it fast-paced and witty. I particularly appreciated the way the Miss World Competition was seen very differently from the perspective of some of the women of colour, one of whom actually won the title in 1969. The inclusion at the end of photos of some of the women actually involved in the event, both protestors and competitors, was very moving. This film managed to be witty and humorous without detracting from the seriousness of the battle for equality of opportunity and respect for women. And what a cast - some brilliant performances.

Sketchy record of turbulent times - Misbehaviour review by TE

Cartoon version of the events surrounding the 1970 Miss World competition.

It's a pacy narrative, but it tries to cram too much in: issues around feminism, racism, conflict between generations, the role of the media, the out-of-date values represented by celebrities like Bob Hope, it's all in there but in diluted form.

The cast is good, and the big event is well staged, but overall it feels like a missed opportunity.

The closing images of the real women involved at the time provides a nice touch.