Vera Drake ***** (2004, Imelda Staunton, Phil Davis, Jim Broadbent, Eddie Marsan) – Classic Movie Review 1872
Award-winning Imelda Staunton is a revelation as Vera Drake, a cheery Fifties London cleaner, who has a secret life ‘helping young girls out’ as an abortionist. Performing an abortion is illegal in England at the time, but the kindly Vera sees herself as simply helping women in need. A thoroughly good if misguided person, Vera lavishes care on her working class family, her sick neighbour and elderly mother.
Writer-director Mike Leigh’s superbly realised 2004 film is one of this great film-maker’s best, with a heart-breaking story, exquisite characterisation, perfectly realised period detail, persuasive lines of dialogue and a heartrending finish. Phil Davis is Staunton’s equal performance-wise as Vera’s mechanic hubby Stan.
The winner of the Golden Lion and Best Actress (Staunton) awards at the Venice Film Festival. After this big success at Venice, it was nominated for three Academy Awards. Staunton was nominated Best Actress for a Golden Globe and an Oscar. She won the Bafta as Best Actress. The London Film Critics loved it, giving it five awards, including British Film of the Year and Actress of the Year.
Eddie Marsan, Daniel Mays, Lesley Manville, Sally Hawkins, Jim Broadbent, Marion Bailey, Chris O’Dowd, Adrian Scarborough, Simon Chandler and Sam Troughton also appear.
© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1872
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