Check Out the Trailer

Though this film deals with abortion, it’s not about abortion. The film is a character study about a woman who does illegal and possibly dangerous abortions for all the right reasons.

This character is Vera Drake, played amazingly by Oscar-nominee Imelda Staunton (MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING). Director Mike Leigh (SECRETS & LIES) skillfully crafts this tale, which sets up Vera’s life and family before thrusting the drama of the story upon the audience. Stan (Phil Davis, NICHOLAS NICKLEBY) is her devoted blue-collar husband. Sid (Daniel Mays, ALL OR NOTHING) is Vera’s son, a tailor by day, wanna-be player by night. Ethel (Alex Kelly, ALL OR NOTHING) is Vera’s mousy daughter.

One day Vera invites a shy neighbor named Reg (Eddie Marsan, 21 GRAMS) home for dinner and subtly hopes he’ll take a liking to Ethel. Stan works at an auto shop run by his younger brother Frank (Adrian Scarborough, DIRTY PRETTY THINGS), who idolizes Vera. Frank is married to the snobby princess Joyce (Heather Craney, TOPSY-TURVEY). Vera’s old “friend” Lily (Ruth Sheen, VANITY FAIR) sets her up with the girls she is to help. Vera takes no money for her services and doesn’t know that Lily does.

Staunton’s performance is miraculous. There are things that we never find out about her that can so easily be assumed through her responses and actions. The last third of the film shows us how Vera’s family reacts to her being arrested after a girl nearly dies.

The only subtle political stand the film makes is with a parallel story dealing with a rich girl named Susan (Sally Hawkins, upcoming LAYER CAKE), who after being raped is able to obtain a private, legal and safe abortion. Leigh isn’t arguing for or against abortion here, but bringing to light the discrepancies between rich and poor. Reg makes a statement toward the end of the film that sums up the double standard nicely. Leigh makes amazing films and I look forward to seeing every new effort from him. This film is subtle, amazingly crafted and contains some of the best acting in any of his films. The title of this film is what the movie is about, not what the title character does.