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Vera Drake
Vera Drake
+4
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Vera Drake

Vera Drake

2004
Drama
2h 5m
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. (imdb)

Directed by:

Mike Leigh

Screenwriter:

Mike Leigh

Starring:

Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Eddie Marsan, Richard Graham, Alex Kelly, Daniel Mays, Peter Wight, Sally Hawkins, Chris O'Dowd, Phil Davis

Genre:

Drama

Countries:

France, New Zealand, UK

Language:

English
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Vera Drake

2004
Drama
2h 5m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 64.94% from 1089 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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coffeecoffee
Rated 06 Mar 2007
84
82nd
Imelda strikes with admiration..
Rated 06 Mar 2007
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 17 Aug 2018
97
97th
Nominated for best screenplay without having a screenplay = badass Video essay: https://youtu.be/iQYPMFknG1Y
Rated 17 Aug 2018
lisa_iilisa-
Rated 28 Jun 2014
6
83rd
mike leigh's overstated 'realism' is just amazing. this one doesn't bother with moral ambiguity and instead makes a very clear pro-choice argument, and while that sort of thing might annoy me in lesser, more conventional melodramas, here it provides backbone to the hugely powerful performances and events. often directors hide behind false dichotomies to avoid making statements, and so it is refreshing to see leigh make clear moral choices. though of course it's a moral choice that i agree with.
Rated 28 Jun 2014
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 19 Mar 2010
89
92nd
The intro is a tad drawn out, a looming shadow hangs over Vera while the film drifts along slowly depicting various daily lives. That's really my only complaint in an incredibly powerful film full of humanity that treads around its subject with great empathy and care. It avoids easy sensationalism and even that drawn out first hour offers a lot of nice tidbits of social commentary and sets up the characters for what we'll see in the second half.
Rated 19 Mar 2010
caimancaiman
Rated 23 Jul 2009
84
75th
The superb acting and directing give this movie a subtly disturbing realism that is refreshing to see. The first half of the movie is spent making us feel like a part of this family. Then as the movie hits its emotional turn, we are left as dumbstruck and distraught as the characters in the film. It's deliberately low key and slow moving, which mostly works to its benefit (it did feel a little bit TOO slowly paced a time or two). If nothing else, see it for Staunton's fantastic performance.
Rated 23 Jul 2009
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 24 Sep 2024
91
89th
Vera Drake estreava há 20 anos no Festival de San Sebastián. Irmão espiritual do filme do Chabrol sobre aborto feito 15 anos antes, reitera a frase ativista das feministas há décadas: "as ricas abortam, enquanto as pobres morrem" evidenciando as questões de classe sobre a criminalização do aborto. YTS.
Rated 24 Sep 2024
margustaMargusTa
Rated 27 May 2023
77
74th
Surprisingly good movie which handles a delicate matter very well. Great work from director Mike Leigh who doesn't disappoint the viewers at all. Great geniune atmosphare all around.
Rated 27 May 2023
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 12 Aug 2020
80
78th
Staunton shines in an intense performance as a happy-go-lucky working class house cleaner, while she has a side hustle as an abortionist on Friday evenings. This character study is very slow, and it felt like there were several detours, although they make sense by the end.
Rated 12 Aug 2020
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 22 May 2019
85
59th
Viewed May 21, 2019.
Rated 22 May 2019
ottott
Rated 07 Jan 2019
70
57th
on women's rights
Rated 07 Jan 2019
carlosproCarlospro
Rated 26 May 2015
85
92nd
grande performance
Rated 26 May 2015
3drevelation3dRevelation
Rated 24 Apr 2014
72
53rd
Imelda Staunton gives a teary performance that is good and the story is ok, but I wasn't blown away by anything. It's the first Leigh film I've seen and it is ok.
Rated 24 Apr 2014
glm01glm01
Rated 05 Oct 2013
84
79th
84.000
Rated 05 Oct 2013
w00dyW00DY
Rated 05 Nov 2012
77
76th
A beautiful movie from Leigh, as much about secrets within families and British class structure as it is about the moral dilemma surrounding abortion. The cast are all good but Staunton is simply incredible as the protagonist.
Rated 05 Nov 2012
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 25 Oct 2012
83
70th
Staunton's incredible, heartbreaking, one-of-a-kind performance is positively staggering, aided immeasurably by Leigh's improvisational direction which undoubtedly assisted her to get to the level of intensity required. It is also Leigh's at times loose control of the film and narrative that contributes to the film's greatest liability; a wandering, meandering first half that is occasionally frustrating until the true focus of the story kicks in and becomes compelling.
Rated 25 Oct 2012
stevekimesstevekimes
Rated 09 Sep 2012
89
84th
Part character study, part community study, it shows how Mike Leigh's unusual style can work expertly when everything clicks. A truly remarkable with truly remarkable acting.
Rated 09 Sep 2012
wezzoWezzo
Rated 23 Jul 2012
85
67th
Very solid, as is typical for Mike Leigh, with a powerful performance from Imelda Staunton and a gut-wrenching final half-hour, but I had minor issues with Sally Hawkins' subplot being abandoned
Rated 23 Jul 2012
maM_A
Rated 19 Jun 2011
60
43rd
Yes, the acting is superb. Yes, it's unbelievably impressive that this movie doesn't even have a script. But, compared to Leigh's filmography, Vera Drake feels a bit too sappy and heavy handed. It's a good film but if I were to recommend a Leigh film, I'd go with Naked or Another Year.
Rated 19 Jun 2011
rottentomatoRottenTomato
Rated 17 May 2011
92
83rd
With a piercingly powerful performance by Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake brings teeming humanity to the controversial subject of abortion.
Rated 17 May 2011
tavingtonTavington
Rated 22 Mar 2011
3
68th
Very well done drama, made to satisfy critics. Much very like King's speech, having great leads, british cast which is rarely seen in anything but UK TV mini-series and with strong feeling of Britishness. Perhaps there should have been some finish to S. Wells story and reaction of community towards Drake's family.
Rated 22 Mar 2011
judge_holdenJudge Holden
Rated 04 Mar 2011
6
81st
It features Leigh's trademark realism, but it lacks the moral complexity of his better films. It's too calculated and simplistic to be insightful. I especially didn't like how unambiguously wonderful Imelda Staunton's Drake is. I don't buy the argument that her virtuousness is called into question when her good intentions are usurped by the unpredictability of everyday life. A similar point was made in HGL, but with a more precise script and a more well-rounded protagonist.
Rated 04 Mar 2011
glmglm
Rated 02 Jan 2011
86
83rd
85.500
Rated 02 Jan 2011
neonmanNeonman
Rated 27 Oct 2010
86
84th
Not sure how this affects females, but for me, this was one of the most physically affecting films I've seen in some time. This is also exhaustingly emotional as well, due to Imelda Staunton's genuinely innocent, but morally debatable character.
Rated 27 Oct 2010
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 18 Oct 2010
30
78th
"Like any good Leigh film, Vera Drake is about the nature of family, which is the same thing as the nature of humanity." - Ed Gonzalez
Rated 18 Oct 2010
rufamRufam
Rated 27 Jul 2010
75
72nd
Imelda Staunton delivers one of the best performances of the 00's in Mike Leigh's heavy-handed but worthwhile period drama.
Rated 27 Jul 2010
miawallcemiawallce
Rated 27 Jul 2010
90
90th
Imelda Staunton amazing in this.
Rated 27 Jul 2010
jeffvjeff_v
Rated 27 Feb 2010
82
93rd
Thankfully, it's neither an "issue" film nor a hagiography. What it is is a study of what it means to be humane. Sometimes good intentions and illegality co-exist, and sometimes acts can be argued as equally moral or immoral. Mike Leigh orchestrates the story with a master's eye for maximum tragic impact, balancing the grim material with a lighter sub-plot until the moment comes when the darkness consumes the light.
Rated 27 Feb 2010
ezoterikEzoterik
Rated 15 Jan 2010
82
82nd
It's basically a one woman movie. Imelda Staunton really pulls it off, she's entirely believable in her role of a caring saint who sneaks into the night to 'help woman'. Movie doesn't take sides, but rather lets you decide for yourself. All it does is offer you a glimpse into a past not so long ago... when things were different. The point it makes is: Are things REALLY different or is just our vision skewered. Instant classic drama.'
Rated 15 Jan 2010
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 01 Aug 2009
71
70th
Drab, but engrossing. Staunton is sensational.
Rated 01 Aug 2009
turinturin
Rated 29 Jan 2009
78
86th
Socially-centered cinema at its best. It's unbelievable there was no fixed script and most of the dialogues where improvised! A simple story about simple people lives told perfectly by Mike Leight
Rated 29 Jan 2009
uniquenameUniqueName
Rated 17 Jan 2009
83
71st
Good acting
Rated 17 Jan 2009
3names3Names
Rated 23 Oct 2008
86
62nd
It doesn't sound like a movie you want to see (guys), but you do...
Rated 23 Oct 2008
maiden_overmaiden over
Rated 20 Jun 2008
90
44th
Factual events of a womans need to help others. Great acting and research.
Rated 20 Jun 2008
parcalihamparcaliham
Rated 01 Apr 2008
85
77th
02 Nisan 08, 00:13am. & "Vera Rose Drake" karakterini mukemmel bir sekilde tasiyan Imelda Staunton ve Mike Leigh'in 1950'lere donup, mukemmele yakin is basarmasi! gereginden fazla iyi olan bir kadinin, bu iyiliginin kurbani olmasini anlatan, muzikleriyle "naked" filmini animsatmis film.film, polislerin vera'yi almaya gelmesine kadar mukemmel gidiyordu.sonra vera'nin degisimiene sahit olduk ve acikcasi ilk yarida aldigim zevki ikinci yarida alamadim.yonetmenin izledigim ikinci filmi.
Rated 01 Apr 2008
bellamyrbellamyr
Rated 12 Jan 2008
89
92nd
Brilliantly worthy, dark and moody film. Largely improvised within the framework of a plot this moves along nicely and has some beautiful central perfomances. Sympathetically filmed and directed this will make you see a back street abortionist in a different light .. at least this one.
Rated 12 Jan 2008
drewlephantDrewlephant
Rated 14 Nov 2007
62
40th
A wee bit too British for my tastes. Compellingly written and portrayed, but just too dry.
Rated 14 Nov 2007
filmerFilmer
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
75th
Shouldn't be missed by anyone who stakes a claim on truthful character portrayal, fine performance and moving drama.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
adrianavbadrianavb
Rated 14 Aug 2007
89
97th
One of the best performances I've ever seen!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
medMed
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
96th
One of the most phenomenal performances by a woman you will ever see, and the rest of Mike Leighs movie is pretty damned good too.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
staypuftStay_Puft
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
85th
Good stuff. Love the two plot threads in the first half.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
citysqwirlcitysqwirl
Rated 14 Aug 2007
81
69th
Enormously well acted, but grubby and depressing.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
78
63rd
Does a great job of putting a human face on so-called "back alley" abortionists, but I must admit this would have more impact if it was a true story (though there are almost surely many true stories just like it). Imelda Staunton was very good, and Phil Davis as her husband gave a fine performance as well. A little slow to get started, and the mumbling accents got irritating, but otherwise a good movie.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
nancysidnancysid
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
68th
wonderful performance by a great actress.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
yilbyilb
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
79th
A bit slow & overly long in parts yet quite pleasing. Not a happy movie.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
willofgaiawillofgaia
Rated 27 Jul 2007
90
72nd
Imelda Staunton gives a fantastic performance, but the film has a few problems: A subplot involving a rape victim goes nowhere and is forgotten, the music is a tad overdramatic, and a few other minor issues.
Rated 27 Jul 2007
briareBriare
Rated 12 May 2007
70
58th
The film offers zero insight into abortion or abortion law, and I suppose that sort of works in the film's favor. It can be interpreted as pro-choice, but it never goes out of its way to make that known. It treats Vera as a person, rather than a figure and that alone puts the movie above its contemporaries like North Country. The script itself is painfully weak though- only the lively and inspiring performance of Imelda Staunton really floats the production above average.
Rated 12 May 2007
stainStain
Rated 25 Mar 2007
100
95th
Magnificent. Can't say too much without giving away too much, but this is a HELL of a lot better than most "art" films
Rated 25 Mar 2007
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 01 Mar 2007
80
95th
Excellent.
Rated 01 Mar 2007

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