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Vera Drake

  • 20042004
  • RR
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
25K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Vera Drake (2004)
Trailer
Play trailer2:14
1 Video
24 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama

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

IMDb RATING
7.6/10
25K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mike Leigh
  • Writer
    • Mike Leigh
  • Stars
    • Imelda Staunton
    • Jim Broadbent
    • Heather Craney
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mike Leigh
  • Writer
    • Mike Leigh
  • Stars
    • Imelda Staunton
    • Jim Broadbent
    • Heather Craney
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 177User reviews
    • 149Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 41 wins & 45 nominations total

    Videos1

    Vera Drake
    Trailer 2:14
    Vera Drake

    Photos24

    Imelda Staunton and Phil Davis in Vera Drake (2004)
    Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake (2004)
    Imelda Staunton, Helen Coker, and Phil Davis in Vera Drake (2004)
    Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake (2004)
    Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake (2004)
    Imelda Staunton, Phil Davis, Daniel Mays, and Alex Kelly in Vera Drake (2004)
    Imelda Staunton and Phil Davis in Vera Drake (2004)
    Mike Leigh in Vera Drake (2004)
    Imelda Staunton, Mike Leigh, and Dick Pope in Vera Drake (2004)
    Mike Leigh in Vera Drake (2004)
    Vera Drake (2004)
    Vera Drake (2004)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Imelda Staunton
    Imelda Staunton
    • Veraas Vera
    Jim Broadbent
    Jim Broadbent
    • Judgeas Judge
    Heather Craney
    Heather Craney
    • Joyceas Joyce
    Richard Graham
    Richard Graham
    • Georgeas George
    Eddie Marsan
    Eddie Marsan
    • Regas Reg
    Anna Keaveney
    Anna Keaveney
    • Nellieas Nellie
    Alex Kelly
    • Ethelas Ethel
    Daniel Mays
    Daniel Mays
    • Sidas Sid
    Phil Davis
    Phil Davis
    • Stanas Stan
    Lesley Manville
    Lesley Manville
    • Mrs. Wellsas Mrs. Wells
    Sally Hawkins
    Sally Hawkins
    • Susanas Susan
    Simon Chandler
    Simon Chandler
    • Mr. Wellsas Mr. Wells
    Sam Troughton
    Sam Troughton
    • Davidas David
    Marion Bailey
    Marion Bailey
    • Mrs. Fowleras Mrs. Fowler
    Sandra Voe
    • Vera's Motheras Vera's Mother
    Chris O'Dowd
    Chris O'Dowd
    • Sid's Customeras Sid's Customer
    Adrian Scarborough
    Adrian Scarborough
    • Frankas Frank
    Sinead Matthews
    Sinead Matthews
    • Very Young Womanas Very Young Woman
    • (as Sinéad Matthews)
    • Director
      • Mike Leigh
    • Writer
      • Mike Leigh
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Vera Drake is a selfless woman who is completely devoted to, and loved by, her working class family. She spends her days doting on them and caring for her sick neighbor and elderly mother. However, she also secretly visits women and helps them induce miscarriages for unwanted pregnancies. While the practice itself was illegal in 1950s England, Vera sees herself as simply helping women in need, and always does so with a smile and kind words of encouragement. When the authorities finally find her out, Vera's world and family life rapidly unravel. —Sujit R. Varma
    • pregnancy
    • unwanted pregnancy
    • abortionist
    • female protagonist
    • panties
    • 139 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Wife. Mother. Criminal.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for depiction of strong thematic material
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Except for Imelda Staunton, none of the actors knew the film was about abortion until their characters found out.
    • Goofs
      Vera's sister-in-law Joyce says she wants a washing machine which costs "25 pounds." Until decimalization in 1971, most luxury goods, like washing machines and men's suits, were priced in guineas, not pounds (one guinea = one pound one shilling, or one pound five pence in decimal). Some stores, particularly those wishing to appeal to the middle class or aspiring to a degree of 'poshness', priced items in pounds. Throughout the 1960s most domestic items were priced in pounds, shillings, and pence. Services and professions continued to charge in guineas until much later. In the film, an abortion costs two guineas.
    • Quotes

      Reg: It don't seem fair. Look at my mom: six of us in two rooms. It's all right if you're rich, but if you can't feed them, you can't love them, can you?

    • Connections
      Featured in The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2005 (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Salut D'Amour (Liebesgruss), Op.12
      (1888)

      Written by Edward Elgar

      By permission of Schott & Co Limited, London

      Performed by Rosemary Warren-Green (violin) and Ian Brown (piano)

    User reviews177

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Being kind, no matter how.
    The key for understanding the character of Vera Drake is "dear". Vera is one of the kindest souls one will ever see in pictures in a long, long time. Vera Drake is a woman who will go out of her way to be of use to anyone that needs her. In fact, one's initial reaction to Mrs. Drake's activities is one of complete disbelief.

    Mike Leigh has created a film that, although not easy to sit through, is one of the finest movies that have come out of the English cinema in a long time. This director keeps getting better with every new film. The subject of the film is something that has been at the heart of the recent elections in the USA. With the new climate in this country it's easy to see that situations like the ones we see in the story, could well be the norm here in a not too distant future.

    The main, and perhaps the only, reason for watching this extraordinary film is the portrayal of Vera by that wonderful actress, Imelda Staunton. Her Vera is an example a person who can't say no to anyone in need. There is a scene when Vera is first confronted by the police during a dinner at her house where we see her face as charges are hurled at her, then little by little, Ms. Staunton breaks down in what is one of the great moments in acting by any actress in living memory. One can see her eyes fill with tears because it suddenly dawns on Vera the immensity of what she has done.

    The action takes place in 1950 in a London still ravaged by the effect of WWII. The film recreates the era with great details. Vera's flat is so tiny, one wonders how can four grown up people live in such cramped quarters. Even though they are poor, the Drake household is happy, as they all live together without apparently getting on each other's nerves. Both children, Ethel and Sid are well behaved; they both love their parents. Stan and Vera love one another in a subdued, but caring way. Is it possible that Vera could be the monster she is accused of being?

    The film also makes a point of the contrast between the humble way in which the Drakes live and the rich houses where Vera goes to work every day. Vera's home is tiny and the others are so well appointed, it is only natural to assume that Vera will bear a resentment toward her employers, but on the contrary, she is a dignified woman who makes do with her meager wages.

    There is also the irony about how Susan Wells, the daughter of one of Vera's employers, goes through the same thing that the other girls that Vera "helps", and everything is done in a civilized way. Mr. Leigh shows us in this case how things are different because Susan is able to buy a solution to her problem and deal with it safely.

    The ensemble cast is marvelous. Imelda Staunton dominates the movie. We can't take our eyes away from the dowdy and plain woman we see on the screen. Phil Davis as Stan, Vera's husband, is excellent. Alex Kelly plays the mousy daughter Ethel, who never utters a word; this actress makes her real. Daniel Mays is Sid, the son who can't understand what his mother has done. Eddie Marsan as Reg, makes his character believable.

    The film is a triumph for Mike Leigh.
    helpful•166
    20
    • jotix100
    • Nov 6, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 4, 2005 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Untitled Mike Leigh Project
    • Filming locations
      • UK
    • Production companies
      • Les Films Alain Sarde
      • Film Council
      • Inside Track Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $11,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,775,283
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,207
      • Oct 10, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $13,267,869
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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