My advice is to go on Bittorrent, download the film and then delete it.

Win/Win.

I agree with Ed Waugh 100%

I was born and bred on two different coalfields. That in the North East , and that of Nottinghamshire. By profession I was always what would generally be regarded as at least middle-class.

I was successful enough to be able to retire very early. I am , economically/financially , what might be regarded as a typically tory fan of Thatcher.

I would rather have my eyeballs peeled than watch that film.

Thatcher is a superb demonstration of much that is wrong with modern society , and the self-centred , greed motivated morality , she spawned.

A national leader is meant to rule for the good of the majority , and deliver policies that benefit the nation.

Thatcher, like Cameron and Co', overlooked that the nation is not merely comprised of the small percentage of the insanely wealthy and well off.

She was the most devisive leader we have had since Charles I and Cromwell's lads had a pop at a really messy referendum.
The woman was a total failure , who wasted massive resources creating conflicts at home , and enabling conflicts abroad to bolster her rapidly failing popularity.

History will one day set aside the pomp and lies woven about the horrible harpie and write her up for what she was...
An evil exploiter of a system that enabled wealth and privilege to benefit at the cost of all else... An economic incompetent who relied on windfalls from asset stripping sell-offs of state resources to bolster he record... and a destroyer of communities, families , and whole tiers of economic structure in the areas 'North of Watford' , and beyond the home counties..

I have only encountered admiration for the woman in the home counties.
It even seems to be fading there.

The film , like her , can go to rot.

I won't be going to see the film. If you know something is bound to wind you up then try to avoid it. Culturally there seems to be a backward looking pro conservative, pro establishment propanganda surge of late. The Kings Speech after Christmas last year to get us all in the mood for the Royal wedding , Thatcher this year to get us ready for some patriotic flag waving at the Olympics and the ubiquitous Downton Abbey. Austerity and the Arcadian Dream when we all knew our place. By all means make movies about historic figures but balance is required. the comments above in the article show how devisive she was.

I wouldn't watch "For Your Eyes Only", either, as it also has Thatcher in it...

Brilliant. Democracy in action.

Something Thatcher would have violently disagreed with.

This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.

What dismal, bitter people.

I saw a clip from this film on BBC Breakfast earlier this week where a retired Thatcher was bemoaning the increase in the price of milk. This from 'Thatcher the Milk Snatcher'.

I can only assume the scriptwriters are taking the piss.

A vile woman & a vile film that I won't be wasting my time to watch

This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.

The problem with boycotting 'The Iron Lady' is that people would be, and have been, willing to pay to see a film about Hitler.

laverda
6 January 2012 12:07PM
I hope the government 'boycott' Tyneside when dishing out grants and subsidies and concentrate removal of overpaid public sector non jobs from the North East, see how the spongers get on then.

Yes those terrible spongers whose mining and shipbuilding helped prop up Britain and large chunks of the Empire for over 100 years.

If you wanted it all left to ruin (which im sure you did) dont be surprised if people try to find other work.

From the moment as a trusting 13 year old I saw 2 policemen randomly beat the crap out of a striker in front of his kids at Murton Colliery. I knew where the orders came from.

I will join with many in breaking out a bottle when the poisonous old bitch pegs it

Unencom
6 January 2012 11:46AM
What dismal, bitter people.

Tell me about it. Her supporters really were the most odious of people

A few years back Andrew Marr produced an excellent and balanced review of the Thatcher era in his History of Modern Britain series.

That would be a much better watch for anyone but, alas, I suspect those in the north east and other affected communities wouldn't be willing to watch that either or would dismiss it out of hand because it covered both the good and bad elements of her tenure.

Sadly their bitterness means they can't bring themselves to even accept that she did some good things too which ensured her re-election on two separate occasions.

Proof that history cannot be properly judged by those who lived through that period, whether they were positively or negatively affected.

This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.

This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.

I was living in the U.K at the time of the miners strike, working in a restaurant down in the stockbroker belt. One lunch I overheard some fat, middle aged, men, (i'm being polite) in conversation over cognac and cigars discussing the miners strike. They thought Maggie was being "too soft". "She should nuke them". I really longed to point out that given the size of the U.K. they would most likely suffer from the fall out but I suppose they were certain she would wait for a south wind. I am sure that some of the posters here such as Laverda would agree with them, provided of course that there wasn't a north wind.
My impression was that the UK was deeply divided by geography, despite it's miniscule size, class and wealth to a degree that I still find almost incomprehensible. Maggie thrived from that division and in doing so accentuated it.
I'm not a Brit, (well a few generations removed) but I will not be bothering to see this film either. The woman and her supporters with their cognacs and cigars sickened me then and sicken me still.

Unencom
6 January 2012 11:46AM
What dismal, bitter people.

Couldn't agree more, Tories really are dismal, bitter pond life, well said

This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.

This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by our community standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see our FAQs.

A national leader is meant to rule for the good of the majority , and deliver policies that benefit the nation.

Thatcher, like Cameron and Co', overlooked that the nation is not merely comprised of the small percentage of the insanely wealthy and well off.

If only! 'National' leaders do generally only rule for the sectors of society who support them. But even that is not to say that Thatcher (or indeed Cameron) is only supported by the rich with inherited wealth and privilege, the self-employed and barons of industry. One of Thatcher's 'achievements' was to gain votes from large numbers of blue collar workers who subscribed to her philosophy of putting an end to benefit scrougers, immigration and government 'interference' in people's lives. She spelt it out: "lower taxes for the rich to reward them for their hard work; higher taxes for the poor to give them an incentive to work harder" and even working class people voted for that in significant numbers.

Today we hear that opinion polls still suggest a majority of the population support Osborne's imbecile 'austerity' policies, despite the way they are forcing the country towards a second recession and the damage that policy is causing to ordinary middle of the road people in this country. Proof that turkeys do vote for Christmas.

But no, I shall not go to see the movie - I still remember it all too vividly and without the spin!

OldBristolian
6 January 2012 12:25PM
A few years back Andrew Marr produced an excellent and balanced review of the Thatcher era in his History of Modern Britain series.

That would be a much better watch for anyone but, alas, I suspect those in the north east and other affected communities wouldn't be willing to watch that either or would dismiss it out of hand

Im from the North-East. Had family working at 2 pits in county durham. I also watched the programme.

So apparently Andrew Marr is excellent and balanced ?. This series was so badly researched and ili informed I think you should try and view it again.

Take the last program in the series. Andrew Marr confidently predicts that we're set for a golden future because of the decisions made in the 1980's then adopted by New Labour. What a tool. (about a year before everything went tits up)

A far better documentary of post war politics and power made around the same time was Adam Curtis 'The Trap'.
Curtis criticizes both left and right and basically does his homework

Marr is a lightweight

I hope the government 'boycott' Tyneside when dishing out grants and subsidies and concentrate removal of overpaid public sector non jobs from the North East, see how the spongers get on then.

I assume your philosophy is that grants and subsidies should only be paid to the rich and prosperous: "to those that have shall be given, and to those that have not, even that which they have shall be taken away". Thanks for that further illumination of Tory ideology.

Roundering what you say is only too true and a phenomena which is not unique to the U.K. All too often people vote for the leaders and party which least serves their own interests. I think it is attributable to two factors, lack of education about the political system and media or to be more specific, Murdoch and his grubby empire.

As soon as I hear the words "balanced" or "objective" I stop reading because there is no fact no such thing as either.

Ol

dBristolian
6 January 2012 12:30PM
@SnackPot
From the moment as a trusting 13 year old I saw 2 policemen randomly beat the crap out of a striker in front of his kids at Murton Colliery. I knew where the orders came from.

Following that logic you presumably blame Gordon Brown for Ian Tomlinson's death (the chap who was kicked to the ground by a policeman at the London G20 protests in 2009)?

Not at all. But the orders we're to go 'heavy'. Hence they had to draft in large numbers of the Met. Local Police were mostly decent people and didnt like the idea beating up their neighbours. The Met on the other hand were loving the overtime and violence. Always remember the bastards waving £10 notes at the miners to provoke them. With a senior officer standing by laughing his tits off.

Its interesting that have seem pretty certain of your opinion on the basis on Andrew Marr or from the comfort of your house in Bristol.

I know what i saw and it made me sick to my stomach.

Hitler was defeated in the end and committed suicide.
Thatcher survived and lived in luxury unlike the millions she put out of work and destroyed their communities.
I would never go to see a horror film and I would put this in the same bracket.
Thatcher crippled many communities in Wales and her name is mud because of it.
I know for a fact that many "Maggies dead" parties are already in the planning stage.
I know there will be a big cheer in Wales when she pops her cloggs.
The most despised woman in history I would think.
You pay your money and you go to the cinema, not for this crap, a still of her is enough to make my gagging reflex to kick in..........

Oh my Nasty southern Tories slinging mud at the North again,
well independence for all people in the North of England, you can Keep your shit Beer down south, your shit Politicians , and your Droughts.
Up here we have grit, honesty and communities, we also have water and can wash. you cant wash the smell from a Tory they stink of Lies and Loathing. Oh and the Liedem Tory Party as Well

I hope the Guardian realises the hatred being put on here by a tiny minority only reinforces the fact that socialism is not very social at all, as the posters tend to be dyed in the wool labour supporters based on previous comments about anything Conservative or LibDem.

'a vile film that I won't be wasting my time to watch'

What a ridiculous comment. How can you possibly know it is a vile film if you haven't even seen it and you don't intend watching it either. Perhaps you should watch the film so that at least you can give your opinion about the film.

I certainly do not intend watching the film, so would not comment about it. My view on Mrs Thatcher however, is obviously different to yours, along with the many millions of voters who voted for her as a leader and her party in general elections.

The hatred is Based upon That woman destroying the North, the countries manufacturing we are paying the price now and it is all her fault.
In her words No Such Thing As Society.
Well i dont want to live in a world like that.
Nasty Party for Nasty self righteous people who are selfish , Yes You the Tories/Liedems

I have always been able to watch any film, irrespective of subject matter, that is preceded by good reviews/has a director of note/is played by talented actors. But I find myself reverting to the eighties in an instant when I see that face - even as imitated by Streep - and my blood starts to boil. It's an automatic reflex that I seem unable to control: instant hatred for someone who cared for nothing other than the interests of her mates in the City and the profits of the companies who funded her. The fact that she was hailed by some as a 'feminist icon' just intensifies that hate, as she simply encouraged women to be as heartless and as self-interested as successful men. I managed to watch the TV biopic of her rise to power (when she was portrated by Angela Riseborough) but I don't think my blood pressure could take an accurate reminder of her time in office. *shudder*

Nobody is forcing these guys to watch the film.

They can always go back to The Boys from the Black Stuff, When the Boat Comes In or the Likely Lads if they want to recreate their idea of the good old days.

Move on Geordies!. Follow the Scots and do something positive instead of bleating about the past and "that woman"!

Be inspired by your fitba team that is doing so well these days.

The greens destroyed the mining industry in this country (although to be fair it was Thatcher who to an extent used the greens coal = nasty /dirty/ disaster for the environmental ploy to help in its use reduction), also not helped when foriegn coal could be imported much cheaper than we could produce it for here.
The cloth industry went the same way, other countries by fair means or foul could produce cloth / garments far cheaper (but of less quality) than could be produced here, and how we bought their cheap imports by the drove.
Then we had a car industry, and guess what? other countries could knock out cars by the thousand far cheaper and better, than a lot of the stuff we were making at the time, and yes again we bought them in our droves.
Thanks to dinosaur thinking in the boardrooms, and restrictive trade practices on the shop floor, our shipbuilding industry declined when it was found that ships could ba obtained faster, better, cheaper and on time from foreign yards.
We once had a aircraft industry on a par with anything any other country could aspire to to, but successive governments cut, or reduced military aviation contracts (from which most aeronautical innovation sprang) so now we are reduced to making `bits' of aircraft (although Rolls Royce aero engines are still the best in the world)
If anyone want to know why our industrial base has declined they only need to look at the computer / TV they are using, or indeed the car sitting outside
Some people have to learn that if their industry goes past its sell by date, the likelyhood of keeping a job in it is remote.
Ironically it is only if, or when the filthy rich decide to invest cash into a venture that anything like more employment is likely to occur. But with the current rich bashing regime, their reponse is likely to be, sod you peasants i will just sit on my cash and you can go stuff yourselves.
If we want to look at the major cause for our industrial decline, we generally need look no .

I may as well moderate myself as I would never get away with saying what I really think about the woman

Wait till there's a few hundred comments then you'll really see how much she's hated

As posted earlier many seem to relate a persons political view to teh type of newspaper they read.
Therefore it would seem that opinions either way given here represent only a microscopic proportion of the UK public.

They can always go back to The Boys from the Black Stuff, When the Boat Comes In or the Likely Lads if they want to recreate their idea of the good old days.

The Boys From The Blackstuff is a critique - probably TV's most articulate - of Thatcherism. And it's set in, um, Liverpool (although the characters do visit Middlesbrough in the original play).

Mind you, "they" could try Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, which is largely based on Tyneside working class men who couldn't find work in Britain.

Thatcher's Britain, incidentally.

They even threw in a Bristolian, a Brummie, a Liverpudlian and a Londoner to show that deprivation wasn't necessarily localised. Why, it was even created and largely written by the same chroniclers of the "good old days" who gave us The Likely Lads.

Or how about Our Friends In The North, which doesn't flinch from accusing the Labour Party of the 1960s and 1970s of betrayal, but reserves its angriest moment for the miners' strike.

If they really wanted to remember the good old days, those miserable Geordies could even listen to this.

What pisses me off is that today's artists would sooner make Downton Abbey, The King's Speech and The Iron Lady rather than respond as Bleasdale, Clement/LaFrenais, Flannery and Costello did.

No I won't be watching it. Already dreading BAFTA/Oscar season and the easy PR for the PR man.

How the stupid are so easily fooled that paradise was brought to them by Mrs T

Prior to Margaret and Howe (clueless) we had a manufacutering industry, after the stupidity of monitarism we had a lot less of it, particullaly in the energy sector but large other bits were crippled too.

The result is when we inevitably build the nuclear power we need... the designs and majority of build will be French / German / American, the companies we had that wouold build the components are mostly gone what is left is owned by the same folks... The development that gave us technology to sell, gone too.

If you want to see an economy still doing very nicely try Germany, who make and sell things rather than just hoping a load of tax-exile hedge funds and banks might pay a bit of tax,

Geordies ?

Apparently you don't know what the term applies to , or the geographical location of people who might be accurately described as such. If the 'Geordies ' moved on that would refer to numbers measured in thousands, maybe tens of thousands.

The term applies to a quite small area of one 'county'.

The impacted coalfields were far far larger , and geographically widespread.

Equally , fitba would possibly be found in a Scots accent/dialect , but not in a Durham/Northumbrian one.
'Footie' might have been closer to the mark.

Many might ask... 'Toon or Roker'

Your use of the word Geordie seemed to reflect the same attitude a Northerner would be applying if they were to daftly call anyone from anywhere south of Northampton a Cockney.

I'm a posh Southerner and I still think this deplorable old bat has ruined this country for many years to come - her ludicrous acceptance of 'Reaganomics' and the subsequent Friedman-esque looting of the average person's wages, job prospects and destruction of our manufacturing industry and unions, was all done for the benefit of the wealthy elite and is the root cause of the problems we have today - the banking collapse and now the aftermath such as the Tottenham Riots and worse to come can all be seen to have roots in the yuppified 80s and the greed and deregulation that began then - Fred The Shred would have been one such yuppie with Gordon Gekko hair, a giant mobile phone and whale-tail Porsche, and look how well that turned out for us!

So, I although I would rather paper-cut my eyeballs than watch a film about this harridan, I may go along to watch it in a Welsh mining town armed with a whacky horn and a bucket of rotten tomatoes.

Much as I love Meryl Streep, I just can't face it - we are still grappling with the consequences of Thatcher's actions now, in the lack of economic growth and collapse of manufacturing, and the appalling divisions between rich and poor.

All revolutions have their victims, unfortunately. And be in no doubt, the Thatcher years were a revolution for British economy and society.

But there are two things about a revolution: firstly, things have got to be in a pretty piss-poor state to bring a revolution about (and late-70s Britain was a basket case) and secondly, more people have to prosper from the revolution than suffer if it is to take root, and that was probably true of 80s Britain (hence Thatcher's relections) and certainly true of the 90s/00s boom that the Thatcher paradigm engendered.

Can't see this doing so well across the water in Ireland either...her stance on the hungerstrikes was cold and misguided. Her intention was to demonstrate that those men were nothing but common criminals, yet by allowing them to die rather than yeld to a handle of insignificant demands Thatcher managed to consolidate negative opinion towards the British state and strengthen support for the Republican movement both in Ireland and around the world.

Thatcher the only time I would agree to bring back hanging !

Ed Waugh, said:

The film sounds like a whitewash and I don't wish to watch anything about that evil woman and her evil Tory Party.

Well said.
Apart from reporting that just saying the name turns milk sour- I ask what is the agenda of these PR merchants? Why are they being so provocative?

Does it show those knife-weilding Tories as they plunged the blade into her back to finally rid the country of this woman? She's not venerated and she has no legacy apart from unemployment, a benefit underclass and Tony Blair.

Whatever you think about Tories they certainly know how to get rid of someone when the time comes. She was dispatched without mercy.

I watched Silence of the Lambs once.

Perhaps I should have boycotted it to show that I do not approve of serial killers.

Beloved of pyschopaths and Hayekians the world over....SM Queen par excellance of the Japanese...za iaan reidii

@ Wilbe1

The problem with boycotting 'The Iron Lady' is that people would be, and have been, willing to pay to see a film about Hitler.

I'd watch a film about Hitler.

Thatcher? No.

My brother-in-law is a DJ/Promoter in the North East. Such is the level of interest in the area, he's been double-booked for two 'Dance on Maggie's Grave' parties. He's determined to do both, somehow.