Rarely has the generation gap been as wide as it is in the recent documentary Miss Americana, where Taylor Swift’s middle-aged male advisers try to discourage her from making political statements: Bob Hope would never have risked such a divisive move, they argue. Younger viewers asking “Bob who?” can now discover exactly what this popular entertainer represented by watching Misbehaviour. The film revolves around the 1970 Miss World beauty pageant, held in London and compèred by Hope (played by Greg Kinnear). Previous demonstrations had been confined to the pavements, but this time the newly formed Women’s Liberation Movement penetrated the ceremony and targeted both the host and the entire sexist institution. That sent a message to the millions watching worldwide: abandon Hope all ye who enter here.
Misbehaviour follows two women who come to the cause with contrasting ideologies. Sally Alexander (Keira Knightley) is a mature history student who wants a seat at the table. The firebrand Jo Robinson (Jessie Buckley) would prefer to tip it over. When they meet at a Women’s Liberation meeting, Jo wonders why Sally aspires to join the male establishment. Sally responds that it won’t be male once she’s part of it.
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