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Movies / On DVD / Vera Drake
Vera Drake

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Vera Drake (2004)

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Reviews Counted:196

Fresh:171

Rotten:25

Average Rating:7.3/10

Consensus: With a piercingly powerful performance by Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake brings teeming humanity to the controversial subject of abortion.

Rated: R

Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Oct 10, 2004 Limited

Box Office: $3,627,889

Synopsis: Mike Leigh produces another devastating masterpiece with the heartbreaking VERA DRAKE. Imelda Staunton is the title character, beloved wife of Stan (Phil Davis) and mother of Sid (Daniel Mays) and... Mike Leigh produces another devastating masterpiece with the heartbreaking VERA DRAKE. Imelda Staunton is the title character, beloved wife of Stan (Phil Davis) and mother of Sid (Daniel Mays) and Ethel (Alex Kelly). Vera spends her days cleaning houses for money and looking in on elderly and sick neighbors out of the kindness of her heart. She even attempts to be a matchmaker for her daughter, inviting a lonely neighbor, Reg (Eddie Marsan), to see if he might be a perfect match for the introverted Ethel. But Vera performs another duty that her family doesn't know about, one that is deeply frowned upon by society. When tragedy befalls a young client of Vera's, the truth comes out, forcing her family to see their mother in an entirely different light. Staunton gives a towering performance and, in typical Mike Leigh fashion, the story, characters, and script were built from a grueling and intricate improvisation process, resulting in a film that burns with heart-wrenching sincerity. Rather than take a heavy-handed approach towards his controversial subject matter, Leigh heroically remains non-judgmental, delivering an achingly humanistic drama that will linger with audiences long after they leave the theater. [More]

Starring: Imelda Staunton, Philip Davis, Peter Wight, Eddie Marsan

Starring: Imelda Staunton, Philip Davis, Peter Wight, Eddie Marsan, Adrian Scarborough, Sally Hawkins, Ruth Sheen

Director: Mike Leigh

Director: Mike Leigh
Screenwriter: Mike Leigh
Producer: Simon Williams, Alain Sarde
Composer: Andrew Dickson
Studio: Fine Line Features

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Release:

Mar 29, 2005

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Based on a true story, Vera Drake tells of a woman in 1950s England who is devoted to caring for her family, but secretly aids women who want to terminated unwanted pregnancies. When the authorities find her out, Vera's world and family life rapidly unravel.
  • Source: Warner Home Video
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