Vera Drake
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Movie Reviews of Vera Drake
Movie Review: An Emotionally Wrenching Film - Superbly Acted & Directed!
Summary: 5 Stars
I add my voice to the swell of others who have acclaimed Mike Leigh's powerful period piece, "Vera Drake," as an extraordinary film. Writer-director Leigh, ("Topsy Turvy," "Secrets and Lies"), is one of the most consistent forces in cinema today, and seems to have a magic touch with his actors, especially when working with morally complex drama. Imelda Staunton, as "Vera Drake" gives one of the most brilliant, and accomplished performances I have seen by an actor on the large screen, and her role is an emotionally wrenching one. The subject matter of this 1950's based drama is highly controversial - abortion. Yet, as difficult as the material is, Leigh and Ms. Staunton are able to make some powerful statements without taking a position. Leigh doesn't delve into the morality aspect of the issue. Instead he explores how the disclosure of Vera's illegal acts impacts the lives of the people who care for her and depend upon her.
Vera works hard as a domestic servant in post WWII London. A tiny woman, she is a bundle of energy and optimism who exudes warmth and compassion. With great sincerity, she unstintingly gives of herself and her time to help others. She continually looks in on family and neighbors, especially the elderly and infirm, to make sure they have what they need. Vera is the backbone of her family, which includes her adoring husband, Stan (Phil Davis), son Sid, (Daniel Mays), a tailor who fancies himself a man about town, and daughter Ethel, (Alex Kelly), a timid factory worker. Vera is their hearthstone, and the person who truly lights up their lives, a solid presence, full of good cheer and the ever present cuppa.
Unbeknownst to those who love her, Vera has been "helping-out young women" for years. She assists them to end their unwanted pregnancies. Vera has never discussed her work with her family, because she sees this as a confidential matter between herself and each woman she helps. I am sure, however, that she is aware of the moral issues involved in her ministries and the social stigma attached to them. The women she treats are from the working class, like Vera, and are either poor and married with too many hungry mouths to feed, or young and unwed. Vera does this work free of charge - and this is important to the storyline. It is implied that she began practicing abortion when she herself became pregnant as a girl and "needed help" herself. She refuses to use the word "abortion" because she does not see that as what she does. The procedure she uses has proved to be reliable and never before caused physical harm to anyone - that is, none of her young women ever needed hospitalization. A supposed friend, who is the middle-person between Vera and these women, has been charging on the sly, saying nothing to Vera, who would not take the fee and would insist on returning it.
Some will undoubtedly look upon Vera Drake as a criminal, others as a voice of hope in the wilderness. What is always clear is that she is sure that she is working for the good. However, when the police become involved, Vera finds herself in serious trouble with the British legal system. An element critical to the story, is that Vera has almost caused a death, and she is devastated when she learns of this. The police are not portrayed unsympathetically, however, although those who judge Vera and the law, itself, appear to be the villains here - at least this is the way Leigh writes and directs the film.
There is an interesting side story which runs parallel to Vera's. The daughter of one of her wealthy employers is raped. She has no idea that the woman who scrubs her Mum's floors can help her, and so goes to a "society doctor." With clearance from a psychiatrist, she is able to obtain an abortion in hospital, illegal though it may be, with no fuss at all. She has the money handy, 100 pounds, quite a bit more than a working girl would ever have at one time, and money and social position, (her dad works for the Defense Ministry), are what it takes to make things happen.
Ms. Staunton, credibly transforms herself from a jaunty, cheerful, loving woman to a bent, aged, depressed and very humiliated person in a matter of hours as the police disturb a family gathering, her daughter's engagement party. Frequently her facial expressions alone communicate a world of words. She won the best-actress prize at the Venice Film Festival, and the film, was named best picture of the festival.
Interestingly, Leigh, who was born in 1943, dedicates the film to his parents, a doctor and a midwife. I am sure he knows and understands the film's subject well.
JANA
Movie Review: Brilliant & Poignantly Riveting Cinematic Experience...
Summary: 5 Stars
Half-way into Mike Leigh's film about Vera Drake the Detective Inspector Webster (Peter Wight) makes the statement, "I'm just trying to get to the bottom of things." However, the bottom of things has been presented in the hour before Detective Inspector Webster makes his statement, as the audience is visually presented with the socioeconomic and the patriarchal standards of the early 1950's British society in which Vera Drake (Imelda Staunton) exists. It is obvious through Mike Leigh's visual presentation that women of the working class cannot afford proper medical treatment to terminate a pregnancy in a "proper" manner. Thus, women of the working class that have been impregnated for whatever reason, but cannot bear the child due to poverty, social shame, or other reason are forced to seek help from women such as Vera Drake.
To be of service to others Vera Drake brings the joyous mood that seems to surround her wherever she wanders. If she is not cooking and cleaning at her own home she seeks to help others. She tends to handicapped and depressed neighbors, nurtures her aging mother, cleans in upper-class homes, invites lonely men to her family's dinner table, and she performs abortions free of charge to young women in need. Many think of her as the perfect wife who does everything with pleasure while curing the tinier predicaments in other peoples lives by implementing her most famous words, "I'll put a kettle on." In essence, Vera seems to be an earthly angel that was brought to earth to make life a little better for those in need while she calls all "dear".
Abortion is the controversial element of the story, as Vera innocently moves about to perform these terminations of the pregnancies. Vera's method to perform the abortions is equally innocent, as she merely uses a syringe to fill the uterus with soapy water and a couple of days later the woman have a miscarriage. Her clients always seem to be a little cautious after this short and painless procedure to which she calms them down by saying that after a day or two they will have some pain down below and after that everything will be ok, as she hurries to find someone else to help. The abortions are only a small part of her life, yet she is strongly aware of society's notions and laws against it.
Next to the story of Vera there is a smaller side story about Susan (Sally Hawkins), an innocent young upper-class girl, that ends up in a terrible situation after a male has not acknowledged her crying refusal of his nearness. Susan's problems stir up strong emotional dilemma, a reflection of how many women might be experience the difficulty of the situation in which they were positioned. Yet, this story provides a mirror into the world where money is not the object that prevents proper care and treatment. The only connection Susan has with Vera is that she is the family's maid who comes and cleans the house on a scheduled basis.
Despite the magnitude of abortion in the film the story is focused on Vera Drake and her persona. Selflessly and emotionally torn, she cooperates with Detective Inspector Webster, as he is getting to the bottom of things by following the 100-year old law that Vera broke, which was generated in 1861 by a large group of men without consideration for the women in society. In shame, Vera admits to her wrongdoings, yet she believes she was only of help to those who needed her help. It is emotionally painful to see Vera's constant smile wither away when the police visit her home, as it is to see her weep to the charges brought to her. It is no surprise to see that Imelda Staunton was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Actress category and that she has won several other awards for this performance.
Mike Leigh has directed several brilliant films such as Abigail's Party (1977), Naked (1993), Secrets & Lies (1996), and Topsy-Turvy (1999). Each time Leigh succeeds in bringing a new issue into light through a new perspective, and in Vera Drake he does it again. This time he does it in a subtle manner that does not assault the mind like many other films do in the contemporary cinematic world. Instead Leigh employs delicate finesse in his way of presenting the story, as he does not force any ideas or notions upon the audience. This presents Leigh's awareness of the audience's own intelligence while he lets the audience make their own decisions in regards to their opinions. Ultimately, Leigh provides a truly brilliant cinematic experience to the audience where the audience is left to their own device to form and contemplate upon their own notions in regards to Vera.
Movie Review: A masterpiece...
Summary: 5 Stars
Dripping with a raw genuineness, `Vera Drake' is a film that remains a remarkable, long-lasting morality piece for me. Having seen it a few times now, I must say that it still shakes my own beliefs and causes me to battle myself, which is truly testament to its strength as a controversial, complex work of genius.
I've made this statement before, and nothing will ever get me to change it; I am unwaveringly pro-life.
Still, a film like `Vera Drake' approaches the touchy subject of abortion with a veneer of humanity that kind of takes you away from the controversy and causes you to look at things with slightly more objectivity than one may ordinarily. No, this film has not changed my mind, but it is also a film that develops its characters with such profound realism that we are taken into their mind frame and forced to contemplate their actions and rationalize alongside them. While I don't agree with Vera, I can't help but sympathize with her situation and her beliefs and so, in a way, `Vera Drake' allows the obstinately close-minded observer to think a little more open-minded.
The film follows a small segment of Vera Drake's life. Vera is a middle-aged (well, older than middle aged I presume) woman living in London during the 50's. She is a housecleaner and a generally sweet-natured woman who is adored by everyone she comes into contact with. Her natural inclination to `help' others leads her to commit the atrocity that is abortion under the pretence that she is doing a good deed. Vera truly believes in her cause and doesn't see anything wrong with her actions, despite the fact that they are, in fact, illegal. When one of her `patients' gets very ill and Vera's secret is uncovered, her whole world crumbles before her eyes and the controversial nature of her actions becomes the gossip of family members who either support her because of who she is or despise her because of what she's done. This concept, for me, was very poignant and really took me back. Having recently seen this very thing unfold in my own life (figuratively, since no one I know has gotten an abortion) I can totally sympathize with all sides involved. The son, who is fervently apposed to his mothers actions, disgusted even, has every right to be since what she has done, to him (as well as me) is inhuman. On the other hand, the stand that Reg makes, as a simple observer, is not one to be taken lightly. `Vera Drake' beautifully asks a very intriguing question:
Does one bold mistake instantly outweigh a lifetime of good-heartedness?
For a small cast, `Vera Drake' contains one of the finest ensembles I've seen this decade. While there is no denying that Imelda Staunton's brilliant portrayal of Vera Drake is, and will always be, this films solid backbone, one cannot simply dismiss the supporting cast as forgettable. Sally Hawkins (in a small yet luminous role), Eddie Marsan (far better in this tone than the one he muddled through in `Happy-go-Lucky'), Daniel Mays and the magnificent Phillip Davis all layer this film with every ounce of emotional entitlement it deserves. Davis especially is just spectacular as the broken husband struggling to understand what has just happened to him. But no one compares to the beautiful restraint and incomparable rawness that exudes from Staunton's every pore here. Like I said, I've been (recently) in a similar situation (with secrets being revealed that seemed to crush down on everything around me) and so seeing the way that Staunton nervously confessed her `sins' completely blew my mind, because it was so real. This is such a small performance, stripped of all the theatrics that many other actresses may have heaped upon the character (think Angelina Jolie in `Changling') and so it winds up feeling far more haunting than expected.
It breaks your heart.
In the end I am completely in love with this film. I love films that make me feel something, and I love them even more if they challenge me in ways that make me either uncomfortable (in a good way) or validated, and this film kind of does both. Mike Leigh is a director/filmmaker who is lauded and respected by many, but to be honest I have not been entirely blown away by much of his work. This film is a completely different story. For me, this is his best work to date; easy.
Movie Review: This Movie Is Great Because It's Complicated
Summary: 5 Stars
Reviews of this movie which say that Vera is simply an angel of mercy and good as gold are misunderstanding the way Vera's story is told - watch it again and you'll see that little by little Vera's actions become less about "helping girls out" (which she does do, there's no arguing with that) and more about how little she is able to come to terms with some of the darker aspects of her work. She goes through her life whistling a happy tune, but she walks away from everything complicated - as the movie proceeds, we see little by little how she turns from the girls who obviously are having emotional trouble with what they're doing when getting their abortions. She doesn't stay to calm them or to work through the psychological pain they're going through, because that's not the way Vera's made.
Truth-telling isn't a tool in her toolbox. For Vera, the solution to all of life's problems, big or small, is to have a cup of tea. [In fact, the first time someone asked me if I wanted "a cuppa" after I saw this movie, I just blanched.] Vera is so tightly wound, and needs her world to be so simple, so good, that she's destroyed when her world comes to a screeching halt. So she's no "angel of mercy" -- and the people reviewing this film who think she is just too good to be true are missing the point. She is good, deeply good and caring, but she's also badly flawed, and those flaws are due to her own deprivations and her own struggle to survive. Mike Leigh doesn't want us leaving the theater thinking Vera was only a victim of a bad law. He wants us to understand that she, and many other poor people in England after the Depression and the Blitz, coped with their burdens in very different ways. Some people in Vera's world are bitter about the war, others put the war away and never think about it. Some long for material things, some don't. Some people remain loving despite their problems. Some don't. Some people make money off girls who are in trouble. Some, like Vera, help girls out without compensation. Some rich girls in trouble lie to doctors and get legal abortions. Some laugh and act like they don't care about anything. Everyone copes differently with problems, and Vera's way of coping is going to catch up with her, you know it from the start and it's painful to watch.
Vera is wonderfully loving with her family, and she is well-intentioned. She performs the abortions out of concern for the young girls involved. But she is only forced to slow down and think (to stop whistling and stop offering people tea and biscuits and stop fussing and cooing)when her actions are brought home to her. She sometimes helps people, and she sometimes hurts people, but she never has slowed down to think about it.
Imelda Staunton's performance is absolutely brilliant (and don't believe the reviewer who says she cries and cries - that's just not true - her sorrow is very tightly controlled - to the point of an unnerving paralysis, in fact, where she can't even respond.) Her supporting crew is equally good. Pay close attention as the movie opens to the way these people talk about the war and the damage done to them in those years. Maybe we've forgotten how hard that was for people, what they were forced to do, how they coped. It's a real key to the film. We all applaud grit and gumption [think of Churchill turning Dunkirk, which was a slaughter, into "Britain's finest hour"]and we know that Vera has enough gumption to keep her going forever, if nothing gets in the way. But do we applaud a life spent pretending that everything is rosy as can be?
Honor this movie by slowing down and thinking about what's both good and bad about Vera. She's learned to survive by limiting her vision to only the good, ignoring everything bad. Then, abruptly, she is reminded that not only is there ugliness and pain in the world, but she has caused some of it herself. This is a beautiful movie, but it takes some quiet reflection to get to the heart of it.
Movie Review: Neither pro or con abortion, the film leaves the final judgement to the viewer
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a carefully crafted film that captures well the struggles of the working class, the division of class in English society, social control of society, and the strength of the social and family networks that allow poor working folks to survive in the face of adversity. These complex themes are explored through a straight forward, non-complicated narrative that is enhanced with outstanding performances by the entire cast. Thefilm is neither pro-abortion or con-abortion. It offers a realistic view of the process and the players and leaves judgement to the viewer.
The compelling story and main character, Vera, keep you engaged. Vera is a cheerful, giving, warm, compassionate, loving person who is the keystone of her family and social network. Phil Davis plays her husband Stan and his performance is also of the highest level. This hardworking and honest housekeeper performs abortions for poor girls for free, seeing her actions as helpful.
The film is certainly more about social class and privilege as much as it is about illegal abortions. We see both poor and rich girls becoming pregnant and we see wealthy girls using the established medical community to assist them with an unwanted pregnancy whereas we see poor girls faced with fewer options. Likewise we see society physicians willing to perform an abortion if a rich girl happens to have suicide in the family and mentions that she is so stressed that she is thinking about suicide. The physicians are protected but the poor abortionist working to help poor girls in trouble faces considerable punishment.
Yet, the film is carefully made and the rich pregnant girl in the story evokes as much sympathy as do the pregnant poor girls in the story. They are all victims of a social structure that punishes the female if she is pregnant but is not concerned with the father of the child, be he a rich or poor man.
The police act as agents of social control in the film and yet they were highly personal and sympathetic characters. The humanity of the chief detective shone through and it was obvious that this man tries to do his duty within the confines of the law yet feels compassion for those caught in the criminal justice legal system.
So if sexism, classism are oppressive social structures, how to the poor women survive? This film would indicate that strong families and strong social networks are key to survival. We are introduced to no less than 23 characters in the first 30 minutes of the film and yet we quickly see how they are structured in the larger social network.
Vera is a vital part of her family and social network and yet when she gets into trouble, the social network first reacts with shock but then rebounds and offers the emotional and fiscal support needed to overcome the current crisis.
This is a thoughtful film. Each character is complex and well developed. There is a strong sense of justice as a human developed and delivered process. The court system seemed to impart justice, for Vera was indeed an abortionist, no matter how much you feel for this loving motherly little lady. No characters were stereotypes or cartoons. Even the arresting police are seen as part of the social fabric in which they play a role in the most humane manner possible. After you see the film I suspect you will reflect on how well conceptualized, written, directed and performed was this dramatic presentation. Imelda Staunton's dramatic skills are immense, as were all the actors. In an odd way, this film about abortion makes you feel better about the human condition, primarily because when the forces of justice prevail, it is our common humanity and those that love us that allow us to absorb the punishment and move on.