British politics seem to be, as a rule, controversial. As one of the most polarizing figures of the late 20th century, Margaret Thatcher is certainly no exception. As an American, I'm unsurprisingly (and unfortunately) ignorant of a lot of Britain's more recent history, so I can't really easily determine whether any of the content contained in The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher, out on DVD and Blu-ray from BBC Video October 18, is actually factual. I can, however, assure you that all three films included in the set are quite entertaining.
The three made-for-television films are entirely separate affairs. But while Thatcher is portrayed by different actresses in each of the three movies, they form an arc, beginning with her rise to power in the first film, and ending with her 'downfall' in the third. It feels like an epic saga, and in some ways, it is.
The first film included in the set, Margaret Thatcher - The Long Walk to Finchley, which premiered in 2008, shows the very beginning of Thatcher's political career, painting her beginnings as an ambitious young conservative who clawed her way to power in a sort of comedic light. Much of the film features small bits of irony and humor that add a whimsical air -- which makes more serious scenes toward the end (as Thatcher finally gains the power she always wanted) more powerful. As Thatcher, Andrea Riseborough is absolutely magnetic -- she's the strongest Thatcher of the bunch.
The second, 2002's The Falklands Play, is much more focused on a single incident: the 1982 Falklands War, a territory battle between Argentina and the U.K. over a group of islands off the coast of South America. Thatcher, while a main player, isn't the only focus of the film, which is more concerned with the actions of the entire government during the crisis. However, Patricia Hodge portrays the Prime Minister as a force of nature in the many scenes that she's in -- and, since this set is titled The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher, the viewer's focus naturally centers upon her.
Margaret, the simply titled third entry, originally aired in 2009. It's the only film featured on the set's second disc, and it's the longest of the three. It's much darker, much more dramatic, and deals with Thatcher's sudden and sharp downfall in 1990. Lindsay Duncan (Doctor Who) portrays Thatcher in this film, and her portrayal of Thatcher's desperation at the end of her career (and her power) is, to put it simply, riveting. It's my favorite film of the three.
All in all, The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher is a strong set, with three great BBC films. And while those three might not fit perfectly together, their strong arc shows Thatcher's slow rise to power and sudden downfall so well that it might be difficult not to watch all three films in one sitting.
The Rise and Fall of Margaret Thatcher hit shelves on October 18. Order it from Amazon.
