Vera Drake (2004)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

People are voting emotionally.

Expected more

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Character driven period-drama about a woman who commits a crime without being conscious about that. Vera Drake is a selfless woman who is completely devoted to and loved by her working class family. She spends her days doting on them and caring for her sick neighbor and elderly mother. However, she also secretly visits women and helps them induce miscarriages for unwanted pregnancies. While the practice itself was illegal in 1950s England, Vera sees herself as simply helping women in need, and always does so with a smile and kind words of encouragement. When the authorities finally find her out, Vera's world and family life rapidly unravel. Spotless performance by Imelda Staunton, British acting at its best.

she does one of the most beautiful roles of her career in this film. with rare grace, with admirable force, giving strange explanation to her character's job. a film about a delicate theme in a manner who not accuse or excuse. portrait of a woman and her expression of compassion. not soft, not moralistic, not brutal. only precise and honest. the story of Vera Drake has the gift not only present the attitude of British society about an occupation who is tolerated in silence but about social status of middle working class. a film about a strange form of Christian love. useful for reflect about verdicts and options. and interesting to define each of them. because it is more than a biographic movie. and that is one of its high virtues.

Don't give up! This movie starts incredibly slowly and boringly, but ramps up the pace and drama the more it progresses. Ultimately turns out to be a very powerful drama, and an exploration of 1950s prejudices and hangups (some of which, unfortunately, still exist today). Though the movie is clearly meant to spark thought and discussion on abortion, director Mike Leigh doesn't really take a stance. In some ways this is good, as it means you can enjoy the movie as a drama, no matter what your view on abortion. In some ways, however, I wish Leigh had taken a stance (preferably pro-choice), just to make it more controversial. Imelda Staunton is superb in the lead role and deserved her Best Actress Oscar nomination (losing out to Hillary Swank for Million Dollar Baby). A powerful movie. Just be patient.

I've only seen a few Mike Leigh films, and have pretty much liked all of them (his last recent four, and I've liked them more and more with each newer film). So ranking his last four, this is my least favorite of his. It's probably his bleakest in terms of pure melodrama. Like in his other films, a big reason this works is because of Imelda Staunton. She does some powerful work here, although at times she plays things a little too slight. Overall, it's a very good performance, great even, but sort of disappointing after all of the hype and acclaim. overall, this is very much recommended, even if it doesn't build itself as coherently as I would've wanted. Still worth a watch.