Vera Drake

VERA DRAKE is a strong, powerful film of naturalism by Mike Leigh. Starring Imelda Staunton as Vera Drake, Leigh creates in a wonderful meeting of talents, a natural period piece. Set in 1950, Vera is a happy older woman living with her husband and children. Her daughter is being courted by an awkward but well-meaning neighbor boy, and her entire family is shown as a generally kind and gracious one. Vera, however, harbors a secret. She is an abortionist. As provoking as this sounds though, this slow and unostentatious revelation and way of life is portrayed with such obviousness and matter of factness, and Vera is shown to be so well-meaning, that even detractors to the practice would have to make admissions here. Vera believes that she's helping these women, and in many ways, she really is. Her practice is obviously seen as sinister by the people and the times though, and in many ways VERA DRAKE is about how well-meaning people can be screwed by a system that holds power over them and even members of the system on her side. From a technical point of view, VERA DRAKE is impeccable. The production design, lighting, acting is all superb: the world that Leigh creates is believable and clean. This makes the film even more of a tragedy. Small instances and small hardships are stressed. Despite the punishment for Vera's practice being seemingly minor, in the scope of her life, it's massive. Also present here is something that exists in a rarity in contemporary cinema: burrowing into all of the unattractive aspects of a subject. For despite Vera Drake being seemingly kind, there is a sinister nature to the way her process is filmed, her detachment from her subjects, her children's hatred toward her, the questionable loyalty of the family's best friend. VERA DRAKE is a pretty great film, modern and relevant, but also filmed with talent and intelligence.
Vera Drake: ★★★★