Moviola > Films > Vera Drake

Vera Drake (12A)   125 mins

"Wife.  Mother.  Criminal."

Imelda Staunton gives the performance of her career as Vera, a kindly and unassuming woman in 1950s London who cheerfully looks after her husband and grown-up children, works as a cleaner for a rich household, calls in on sick neighbours to plump up their pillows and make them a nice cup of tea and, unbeknown to her family, performs illegal abortions on girls who have nobody to turn to.  When the police find out what she is doing her world falls apart.

Vera Drake received several Oscar nominations, including Best Director and Best Screenplay for Mike Leigh, and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Imelda Staunton.  Mike Leigh was voted Best Director and Imelda Staunton Best Leading Actress in the BAFTA awards.

"The family life in those cramped little rooms is so palpably real that as the others wait around the dining table while Vera speaks to a policeman behind the kitchen door, I felt as if I were waiting there with them."  Roger Ebert

"Wrenchingly powerful"  The Times

Last modified: 10-Dec-2009

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