Vera Drake (Mike Leigh, 2004)
Rating: 7.0
Vera Drake is a bold social realist film that takes place in 1950s England. Leigh asserts his pro choice views by victimizing a lovable "super mother." Vera (Imelda Staunton) looks after her sick elderly mother as well as her husband and two children. What her family doesn't know is she also assists women have miscarriages. I found the film to be very educational as it explores many aspects and situations of abortion including an upper class woman who is raped and can afford to have a legalized abortion, as well as black market abortions involving lower class families with little money. Despite the pro choice stance the film takes, we also see several characters who take the opposite outlook on the subject to balance things out. Imelda Staunton was nominated for an Academy Award in 2005 for her depiction of the pro choice pioneer, Vera Drake. Mike Leigh also recieved nominations from the Academy for Best Achievement in Directing, as well as Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.
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