When it comes to positions of power, 65% of leadership roles are taken up by men. And when it comes to presidents and prime ministers throughout the world, only 7% are female. Probably the most worrying element of these facts is that no one will be surprised to see them.

This film looks at a vital three weeks in the life of Golda Meir, who was not only the fourth ever Prime Minister of Israel, but the first ever female head of government in the Middle East, and only the fourth elected female head of government or state in the world.

1973 and intelligence agency Mossad receive some troubling news that they convey to Prime Minister Golda Mier (Helen Mirren) – Israel is about to be attacked by Egyptian and Syrian forces, on their most holiest of days, Yom Kippur.

It is a threat that the PM dismisses initially, but as her country has a history of not getting on with its neighbours, couldn’t be completely ruled out either.

And soon enough it’s established that the threat is very real, with it looking likely of a war on the horizon. It’s not the best of times for Golda, as she not only has a battle with her neighbouring countries on her hands, but one with her health too, suffering from lymphoma as she was.

It soon transpires that the next few weeks were to be the most testing period in her reign as PM, with the whole world watching her every move.

Israeli director Guy Nattiv has produced an impressive film about a truly impressive woman. His film illustrates that positions of power such as this don’t come easy, coming as they do with the heavy weight of responsibility of an entire nation.

Mirren is exceptional as the chain-smoking leader, showing both her strength and vulnerabilities in equal measure. She’s depicted as a lone figure, with no signs of any family by her side, relying on the friendship of her personal aide.

It’s a fascinating story, with so much taking place within a short period of time, with heavy players such as the US and Russia looking over her shoulder, with both having considerable interests in its outcome.

Nattiv certainly gives the film that retro look, as its set in the early seventies, but perhaps there’s just a bit too much beige on display for one film.

And although it’s not a biopic, taking place over just a few weeks, you certainly get the measure of this formidable woman, making her mark in the male dominated world of global politics.

It’s a film that is the perfect showcase for Mirren, who well and truly gets under the baggy skin of her character, whilst taking on war and cancer. The British actress is barely recognisable, with some remarkable make-up and prosthetics work on show, to get the likeness of the politician who was in her mid seventies at the time.

The film lacks some real punch in other areas however, with all the war scenes taking place over the phone for example, which may have been a solution due to budgetary constraints, but does water down the impact of the drama after a few times.

Still, it’s a superb portrayal of that rarest of things, a woman of power during a particularly heated period in time, doing all she can to protect her country.