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“Riot women”: Finding Catharsis and Connection in Middle Age
Sally Wainwright’s latest series, ”Riot Women,” now available on BritBox in the US, explores the lives of a group of women navigating the complexities of middle age, family, and finding their voices. The show begins wiht a stark scene: beth, contemplating suicide, is repeatedly interrupted by demands from her brother and a friend, ultimately choosing to engage with life, tho imperfectly, by agreeing to join a band.
A Familiar Formula from Sally Wainwright
Wainwright, known for her compelling portrayals of strong women in her native West Yorkshire, previously created the acclaimed crime drama “Happy Valley” BBC and the historical romance “Gentleman Jack” HBO.While those series dealt with crime and historical lesbian relationships, “Riot Women” offers a more accessible premise: a band formed by women at or near retirement age. As Beth succinctly puts it, “We sing songs about being middle-aged and menopausal and more or less invisible…And you thought the Clash were angry.”
The Sandwich generation and Beyond
The band brings together five core members, many grappling with the challenges of the “sandwich generation”-caring for aging parents while also supporting their adult children. Holly, a retired police officer played by Tamsin Greig, finds that managing her family is a full-time job in itself. Jess, a bar