A Bird in a Cage uncovers the story of Margaret Mackworth, also known as Lady Rhondda, a hugely influential figure from South Wales whose groundbreaking work for women’s rights has largely gone unrecognised. Produced in collaboration with 100 young people from Welsh schools, this film looks at a life in which she headed the Newport branch of the suffragette society the WSPU, challenged the House of Lords, went to prison for burning a postbox, became a successful business leader, founded an eminent political and literary magazine, and even survived the sinking of the Lusitania. Through a combination of interviews, archive footage and traditional cut-out animation developed through workshops at local schools, Lady Rhondda's rich life is finally brought to light. 

 

Directed by Lauren Orme

Produced by Amy Morris

Original score by Tic Ashfield

Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and First Campus at the University of South Wales.

 

WINNER: BEST SHORT FILM, London Feminist Film Festival 2015.

WINNER: BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM, Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema 2016.

WINNER: BEST SCRIPT, Beeston Film Festival 2016.

WINNER: BEST DOCUMENTARY, Beeston Film Festival 2016.
RUNNER UP: BEST SHORT FILM FROM A FEMALE PERSPECTIVE, World of Film International Film Festival 2015.
OFFICIAL SELECTION: Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2015; Animaze Montreal International Animation Festival 2015; Ankara International Documentary Film Festival 2015; Women of the World Film Festival 2015; We the Peoples Film Festival 2015; World of Film International Film Festival 2015; London Feminist Film Festival 2015; Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema 2016; Beeston Film Festival 2016.

 

Find out more about Winding Snake Productions' A Bird in a Cage project at abirdinacage.org.