From The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists to I, Daniel Blake, the working-class struggle has almost exclusively been viewed through a male lens for more than a century, while the popular discussion around feminism has stubbornly centred its focus on white, middle-class women. Iron Ladies offers an antidote to both issues in a comprehensive discussion of the Women Against Pit Closures organisation, which broke with gender conventions on picket lines to support the miners’ strike in the mid-80s. 

Shot as a series of talking heads featuring many of those involved, the documentary offers an oral history of that era, beginning with the movement’s origins and highlighting casual police abuse, vitriol from Margaret Thatcher, and encounters with Bruce Springsteen (who famously donated £20,000 to the cause). Interspersing these vividly told stories are snippets from present-day activism, showing how the spirit of these women can be found in contemporary movements.

Daniel Draper (who previously documented the work of left-leaning political figures such as Tony Benn and Jeremy Corbyn) brings out the best in his subjects, emphasising their political nous and grit. He’s created a vital archive that connects the crushing of unions in the 1980s with our current era of zero-hour contracts and precarious living standards. Yet it’s also a dry experience crying out for a more engaging presentation style. In foregrounding working-class women, this is a must-watch for anyone searching for a more inclusive account of protest history, but a dearth of formal inspiration leaves it destined to preach only to the converted. 

Iron Ladies is in cinemas from Friday 10 October.