Made in Dagenham

The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Rita O'Grady wakes her family in their cramped working-class home in Dagenham, Essex, preparing for another day as a machinist at the Ford factory. She embodies the typical working mother of 1968: juggling domestic duties, raising children, and working in a low-paid, undervalued position.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Management refuses to fix the factory roof or address the unbearable heat, dismissing the women's complaints. The women walk out in protest, initially just wanting better working conditions, but this becomes the catalyst that will transform into a fight for equal pay when their jobs are downgraded from semi-skilled to unskilled.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.

The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Rita makes the conscious decision to escalate the strike from a protest about conditions to a demand for equal pay with men doing comparable work. At a union meeting, she publicly commits the women to continue striking until they receive reclassification as skilled workers with corresponding pay. This transforms their local grievance into a national movement., moving from reaction to action.

At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The women achieve a false victory when they successfully shut down Ford production nationwide, forcing management and unions to take them seriously. Rita gives a triumphant speech at the TUC conference that receives standing ovations. However, this raises the stakes—now the entire British auto industry, government, and union establishment are aligned against them., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.

The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Rita's friend and fellow striker Connie dies after being beaten by her abusive husband—a tragic reminder of women's vulnerability and powerlessness in this society. Eddie leaves Rita, unable to accept her transformation. Rita stands at Connie's grave, devastated, questioning whether the fight is worth the personal cost. The strike seems lost, the women are divided, and Rita has lost both her friend and her marriage., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.

The Second Threshold at 90 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. At Connie's funeral, Rita delivers a eulogy that synthesizes her personal grief with the political struggle. She realizes that Connie's death represents all women trapped by inequality and that backing down would dishonor her memory. Rita finds new resolve: this isn't just about pay, it's about dignity and future generations. She commits to fight to the end, whatever the cost., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.