She may be the daughter of the great philosopher, but Eleanor Marx was a fighter in her own right. A political thinker, labor leader and feminist who was ahead of her time and stands almost timelessly modern in Susanna Nicchiarelli's biopic. The Italian director brings out her bold, unconventional and free-spirited side by introducing her Miss Marx, who mourns at her father's grave in 1883, accompanied by the powerful sounds of the neo-punk band Downtown Boys. At her side are family friend Friedrich Engels, loyal housekeeper Helene and writer Edward Aveling, with whom Eleanor soon enters into a free marriage. Nicchiarelli uses their intricate relationship as a projection screen to show the humanity, but also the personal defeats and political disappointments of her enigmatic heroine against the backdrop of social circumstances.
After her impressive portrait of a female artist, Nico, in 1988, the director once again contrasts the stark contrast between Marx's public and private life with a production that is as daring as it is passionate and which is a must-see, if only for a small but magnificent dance scene in the final act and Romola Garai's fearless performance.
