Vera Drake (2004)

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Written by Mike Leigh

Directed by Mike Leigh

Running Time: 150 minutes (approx)

Production Year: 2004

Rating: 12 Certificate

Production Country: UK/France/New Zealand

Filmed in Colour

Mike Leigh's Oscar-nominated, Bafta award-winning film is set in post-war London and stars Imelda Staunton as the eponymous Vera Drake. Living in a crowded flat with her husband, Stan (Philip Davis), and family, she is a bastion of the neighbourhood, popping in to check on sickly neighbours and inviting lonely bachelor Reg (Eddie Marsan) to supper, while she's also a treasure of a cleaner to a rich family. And she's also, unbeknown to her family, an abortionist.

She doesn't do it for the money (although her friend Lily (Ruth Sheen), who effects the introductions, quietly relieves the girls of two guineas). Vera does it to help girls in trouble and, in one memorable scene, a married woman who simply cannot afford another mouth to feed. She sees being helpful in the same vein as looking out for her neighbours. But her world falls apart when one abortion almost leads to death and the girl tells the police Vera's name. As the family sit down to tea, DI Webster (Peter Wight) knocks on the door...

Leigh's film, released in 2004, is a beautifully caught and articulated story about 1950s British society. The sharp divisions between Drake and the family she cleans for are rightly extenuated, as the daughter Susan (Sally Hawkins) becomes pregnant by her boyfriend but, because she can afford £100, is referred by a psychiatrist to a private clinic. But Leigh also shows the warmth of the Drake family, who, finding their lives shattered, still stand firm.

A stunning film.

Cast

Image for Imelda StauntonImelda StauntonVera
Richard GrahamGeorge
Image for Eddie MarsanEddie MarsanReg
Anna KeaveneyNellie
Alex KellyEthel
Image for Daniel MaysDaniel MaysSid
Image for Philip DavisPhilip DavisStan
Lesley ManvilleMrs Wells
Sally HawkinsSusan
Simon ChandlerMr Wells
Sam TroughtonDavid
Marion BaileyMrs Fowler
Sandra VoeVera's mother
Image for Chris OChris O'DowdSid's customer
Adrian ScarboroughFrank

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Comments

  • Use www.gravatar.com to create an Avatar for your e-mail address and use it on many supported sites March 6th, 2008 - 7:21pmSean F. said...

    Vera Drake only rated at three stars? That is in no way an accurate reflection of the quality of this brilliant piece of work.

    I can only assume that some individuals have dragged the rating down due to the issues at the centre of this film. If there's another explanation, I'd very much like to hear it.

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