Vera Drake (2004)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh (written by)

Release Date:

22 October 2004 (Canada)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Wife. Mother. Criminal.

Plot:

Abortionist Vera Drake finds her beliefs and practices clash with the mores of 1950s Britain--a conflict that leads to tragedy for her family.

Plot Keywords:

1950s | Tragedy | Police | England | Abortionist

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 33 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

Imelda Staunton	...	Vera
Richard Graham	...	George
Eddie Marsan	...	Reg
Anna Keaveney	...	Nellie
Alex Kelly	...	Ethel
Daniel Mays	...	Sid
Philip Davis	...	Stan (as Phil Davis)
Lesley Manville	...	Mrs. Wells
Sally Hawkins	...	Susan
Simon Chandler	...	Mr. Wells
Sam Troughton	...	David
Marion Bailey	...	Mrs. Fowler
Sandra Voe	...	Vera's Mother
Chris O'Dowd	...	Sid's Customer
Adrian Scarborough	...	Frank

Also Known As:

Untitled Mike Leigh Project (UK) (working title)
Vera Drake (France)
El secreto de Vera Drake (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Dve tváre Very Drake (Slovakia) [sk]
Hemsire (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Il segreto di Vera Drake (Italy) [it]
O Segredo de Vera Drake (Brazil) [pt]
Vera Drake (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Vera Drake (Poland) [pl]
Vera Drake - Zena dvou tvárí (Czech Republic) [cs]
Vera Drakes hemmelighed (Denmark) [da]

MPAA:

Rated R for depiction of strong thematic material.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

UK | France | New Zealand

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | UK:12A (original rating) | Taiwan:PG-12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Cressy House, Hannibal Rd., Stepney Green, London, England, UK

Company:

Les Films Alain Sarde

Trivia:

All actors were forbidden to even tell their family what they were doing, what the film was about during filming.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: In the dancing scene with Sid and his friends, the music played features blaring trumpets. However, at the same time it shows the band and the only ones playing are the saxophone and trombone players. The trumpet player is just tapping his toes here. Also, the music would have to be played by a large band, not a group of a couple musicians due to the harmonies heard.

Quotes:

Stan: Whatever she done, she done it out of the goodness of her heart!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Paul Giamatti/Ludacris featuring Sum-41 (#30.10)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Salut D'Amour (Liebesgruss), Op.12

Superb in every way

"Vera Drake" is one of those movies that takes you right in and does not release you until long after the movie is over. Come to think of it, most of Mike Leigh's movies have this effect.

Imelda Staunton is flawless as Vera Drake, a kind-hearted simple soul who believes in sharing the compassion and the caring for her own family with others. Part of this compassion is exemplified in a skill she has - she is a back street abortionist. She does not do it for financial gain, but out of sympathy for the helpless women who cannot afford the psychiatric evaluations given to the rich who are then sent to private nursing homes for the procedures.

Through a series of circumstances she is caught and convicted and we observe the effects on her family and those about her.

Everything is flawless about this film. We really are in the cramped little flat where Vera lives, in the near slum environment. Her cheerful domestic work in the wealthy homes of London is in stark contrast to the poverty of her own post war rationed existence.

This film and the actors have to be nominated for many Oscars. Mike Leigh you have done it again. Bravo! 9 out of 10.