The Dollmaker

Set during the Great Depression in rural Kentucky, the film follows Gerturde Rowley, a fiercely protective mother struggling to provide for her family of seven children. Faced with crushing poverty and the threat of losing her family farm, she makes a desperate choice to accept a lucrative but morally compromising job in a factory, which requires her to move to the city and leave her children behind in the care of her husband. The film explores the sacrifices mothers make for their families and the complex emotional toll of poverty.

The Dollmaker was highly acclaimed upon its release, particularly for Jane Fonda's powerful performance. It was praised for its unflinching portrayal of poverty, family struggles, and the strength of women. The film resonated with audiences for its emotional depth and realistic depiction of hardship during a difficult historical period.

• Praised for Jane Fonda's intense and moving lead performance.

• Commended for its realistic and poignant depiction of poverty and its effects on family.

• Lauded for its strong direction and compelling narrative.

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Jane Fonda won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special for her role in The Dollmaker. The film also received nominations for other awards.

Jane Fonda was so committed to her role as Gertrude Rowley that she spent time living in Appalachia to better understand the lives of the women she was portraying, and even worked in a factory to prepare.