Screendaily Reviews 'Mothers of the Revolution'

Briar March's gripping documentary celebrates the women protesters of Greenham Common

Dir: Briar March. UK/New Zealand. 2021. 102 mins.

The British press derided them harshly; locals dismissed them with prejudice; police treated them with brutality. Yet the women protesters of Greenham Common persisted against intimidation, and this documentary argues they changed history's course. Informative and spirited, the film combines interviews, archival materials, reconstructions, and animation to chronicle a movement originating from a Welsh kitchen table with worldwide impact.

This represents filmmaker Briar March's third feature, following documentaries about climate change and housing crises. Her work consistently explores social justice themes, bringing both compassion and careful research to nuclear proliferation activism. Beyond festival audiences, the film appeals broadly because it delivers an engaging narrative of rebellion and determination rather than academic history.

In the early 1980s, Karmel Thomas, alarmed by government nuclear preparedness messaging, organized a women's march from Wales to Greenham Common, the proposed missile site. The movement expanded significantly, with permanent camps attracting mothers and activists. Realizing media attention waned, organizers created "Embrace The Base," uniting women nationwide in a human chain around the base.

The film documents the movement's international growth, connecting British activists with Soviet counterparts and Marshall Islander survivors. As superpowers escalated tensions, public opinion shifted against nuclear weapons. The documentary traces the path toward the INF Treaty, which eliminated specific nuclear weapons categories. Ultimately, the narrative's emotional resonance emerges through individual stories and sacrifices.

Production company: General Film Corporation

Worldwide distribution: Universal Pictures Content Group

Producers: Leela Menon, Matthew Metcalfe

Screenplay: Briar March, Matthew Metcalfe

Cinematography: Maria Ines Manchego

Editing: Simon Coldrick, Margot Francis, John Gilbert, Tim Woodhouse

Music: Lachlan Anderson