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Bread & Roses (1993)

Bread & Roses (1993)

Drama War

A survivor for whom mere survival was not enough

Release Date: 1993, July 18
Directors: Gaylene Preston
Countries: New Zealand
Production: Preston Laing, Preston Laing, New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand Film Commission
Cast: Ralph Johnson, Tina Regtien, Geneviève Picot, Mick Rose, Erik Thomson, Theresa Healey, William Walker, Jo Briant, Donna Akersten, Raymond Hawthorne, Frances Kewene, Larissa Matheson

Overview:

Based upon the life of activist and trade unionist (and later MP) Sonja Davies. The film covers her life up to 1956, when, at age 33, she was elected to the Nelson Hospital Board. During this period she develops strong socialist beliefs, marries and divorces, at age 17 trains as a nurse, has a romance (and a child) with an American marine who is killed in WWII action. She battles tuberculosis and marries a former boyfriend when he returns from the war. She becomes part of a women's ill-fated campaign to save the Nelson railway line from closure and begins to be elected to political bodies.

Keywords:

woman director nurse politician women's rights tuberculosis new zealand socialists