The Feminine Touch

Possibly produced as a propaganda film to aid recruitment to the still embryonic NHS (the use of colour suggesting access to funds for one thing) this film goes beyond the often stilted characterisations of women in British movies of the 50s, and offers some genuine insight into the reality of the experience. I must say that as someone who knows women now in the lot late 80s who were indeed nurses at this time, it's a fascinating social document. It is a surprisingly frank and adult script, well written and unafraid to tackle (albeit woth the restraint typical of the times) some difficult subjects including the absence of unions, the reality of the donkey work tht made up so much of the job, the low pay, sexual harassment, dying children who are aware of their mortality) and so on. It also speaks to the changing nature of society after WW2, showing the mixing of classes, the growing possibility for women to be independent and so on. Naturally it has its cliches (all the doctors are men, but this was the reality) and there is a now rather unnecessary and trite, stereotypical budding romance. But overall a fascinating and enlightening insight, a window on an important phase in British society.