Plantiana Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Stevecorp Don't listen to the negative reviews

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

peaceweaver This movie sends the worst sort of message, that as long as the "hero" is poor and female and seemingly harmless, she can get away with anything. She stands up for what she believes in, but so what? Her beliefs cost others their lives, and that's not heroic. She benefits from the suffering of others, and rather than standin with women in unplanned, crisis pregnancies, she simply takes the life of the child rather than holding men accountable. Shameful.

SnoopyStyle Vera Drake (Imelda Staunton) is a kind helpful mother and wife to a working-class family. She invites Reg (Eddie Marsan) for dinner and sets him up with daughter Ethel (Alex Kelly). Reg served in the war as well as her husband (Phil Davis) and son (Daniel Mays). She helps the local women with abortions. Unbeknownst to her, black marketeer Lily (Ruth Sheen) charges those women. In a parallel story, Vera also cleans the house of a government minister. The shy daughter Susan (Sally Hawkins) is raped during a date. She is desperate to get rid of her pregnancy and her friend directs her to a higher cost abortion where a psychiatrist uses her aunt's suicide as grounds to terminate.Mike Leigh delivers a movie full of humanity. Imelda Staunton is simply brilliant. I would have liked Susan's story to be more connected with Vera. Obviously, Leigh is making a point about the state of abortion for the different classes but it's not quite clear enough. Overall, Staunton overwhelms this movie with her humanity and kindness.

blanche-2 Imelda Staunton is "Vera Drake" in this 2004 film by Mike Leigh, a real master of storytelling and character studies.The film is set in 1950, and times are still tough in England. Vera lives with her husband and two children in a tiny apartment and cleans houses for a living. She is there to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs one, besides caring for her mother. Vera also has a sideline no one in her family knows anything about. She performs illegal abortions.To Vera, this is just another way to help people. She doesn't take money, though the woman who refers her is taking plenty, without Vera's knowledge. Unfortunately, one of the young women becomes terribly ill and the doctor, realizing what happened, insists that the police are called. During the celebration of her daughter's engagement, Vera is arrested.In a subplot, we're shown how the rich deal with unwanted pregnancies - as long as you have the money and a psychiatrist will say you'll commit suicide if forced to give birth, it can be done in a clean hospital by a doctor. Vera's patients can't afford this.There's not much else to say about the story except that Imelda Staunton gives a sensational performance as Vera - the shock, the crying, the inability to speak up in court, the terror, it all rings true. Though something like 48 when she made this film, Staunton is every bit an older lady who has had a hard life, a gentle soul who loves people, loves her family, and is always there for everyone. Staunton is believable in every aspect, totally inhabiting Vera. She was nominated for an Oscar for her performance. It was a tough year; she lost to the Song of Bernadette performance of Hillary Swank in Million Dollar Baby. Very hard to beat that type of role.Highly recommended - Mike Leigh is a fabulous director and he always has a top-notch cast.

jan-102-399121 Of course the story is meant to make a point - and it does - namely that the post war era in class-riven England was harsh, judgmental and hypocritical. To make the point even more striking, Vera and her family are honest, hardworking, loving and understanding working class people. Helping people is what Vera does - whatever she's doing - even helping girls who have 'got themselves in the family way' - a lovely euphemism that lets the man responsible off the hook. Mike Leigh's genius makes us feel the cramped, warmth of her family home. His England is a place of small rooms and dark alleyways contrasted with the odd cold palatial room of the off-hand upper-class women Vera works for. My only question is about Ethel? Why was she such a droop? With that gentle, loving family, who produced a bright, bouncy independent son - surely she should have had a little bit of backbone. But then she had the wonderful Sid - so she won't need it. A beautiful film - you will cry - so bring your tissues. Wonderful characters (Ethel perhaps excepted) - and a brilliant production.