Suffragette’s a bit stodgy, but Royston Picture Palace presentation is still worth voting for

Audiences at Royston’s Picture Palace who have been shaken and stirred by the latest Bond blockbuster in recent weeks can take a breather as the community cinema heads into a new year.

Over the next two weekends there’s a chance to step back in time for two very different takes on history with a female perspective.

First up on Friday and Saturday, with screenings at 7.30pm, is Suffragette, the handsome costume drama based around the long and bitter fight for women’s suffrage.

The film, released with the tagline ‘Mothers, Daughters, Rebels’ is written by a woman – Abi Morgan – and directed by a woman – Sarah Gavron – and the male actors who include Ben Whishaw and Brendan Gleeson look distinctly outnumbered by the likes of Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff and Helena Bonham-Carter.

Meryl Streep is also involved, playing the struggle’s leading light Emmeline Pankhurst, but she’s there more for A-list cameo clout than to steal the show.

The story concentrates on some of the spear-carriers of the movement, and in the process misses the opportunity to serve up a stirring biopic and instead offers a slightly stodgy costume drama with its heart in the right place.

If the critics were underwhelmed by Suffragette they’ve been raving about Carol, the Todd Haynes take on a Patricia Highsmith novel about forbidden love in 1950s New York.

It looks stunning and Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara are riveting in the central roles.

If you’ve only got room in your January calendar for one film which puts females firmly front and centre, Carol should probably be your choice.

It’s showing on Friday and Saturday, January 15 and 16, and you can get details of programme times and book tickets at www.roystonpicturepalace.org.uk.