Writer/Director: Mike Leigh
Starring: Imelda Staunton, Eddie Marsan and Daniel Hays
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actresses in Hollywood have earned recognition of Imelda Staunton. Ever since her rise to recognition during the 1990’s, Staunton has become a great icon. Whether it’s magical school teachers, wealthy landowners or brave warriors, Staunton has portrayed many strong characters. Arguably, Staunton’s strength as an actress has always been her commitment to her craft. She is one of those rare actresses that has always poured her heart and soul into each and every role. Staunton has never been afraid of taking risks in her career portraying complex characters that aren’t often likeable. Through her abilities to create characters that audiences could easily relate to, Staunton has become an actress which audiences value. A British icon, Staunton has become an actress that audiences cherish. Throughout her career, Staunton has produced several strong movies that are definitely worth talking about without a single doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Staunton and adore all the movies she has made in her career. However, “Vera Drake” is my favourite. Released back in 2004, Mike Leigh’s movie offered a powerful portrait of abortion. Packed with breathtaking production, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it’s one of the best movies ever made about dangers of abortion. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance by Imelda Staunton, who portrays an abortionist facing struggles during an era where abortions are forbidden. Ultimately, what makes “Vera Drake” a masterpiece is its universal appeal. Unlike most movies about abortion targeted towards women, it tackles powerful themes everyone would relate to. It delivers a strong message about womanhood which definitely resonates with everyone. A thought-provoking masterpiece about the process of abortion, there are many reasons why “Vera Drake” is a commemorated movie which is worth seeing.
Set in 1950’s Britain, “Vera Drake” tells a story of an abortionist woman that faces heartache. Imelda Staunton portrays Vera Drake, a strong woman that cares deeply for her family facing heartache. Vera has always held strong beliefs about the importance of abortion as a process that is necessary for women to face. She often devotes all her energy into planning abortions that cause tension. However, Vera’s life forever changes when her strong practice of abortion causes disaster. Faced with a dilemma, Vera is forced to question the ethical implications of her profession that causes trauma. Wondering whether her job is ethical, Vera questions if it is possible for her to overcome a profession that causes grieving. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Vera wonders whether she can any longer perform abortions in a career facing disaster that has a tendency to put the lives of women in danger.
Mike Leigh is a newcomer towards themes of abortion. Before he directed “Vera Drake”, the filmmaker had never made a movie about the process of abortions. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture struggles endured by women performing abortions whose lives are in danger, but he succeeded. Using gorgeous cinematography, Leigh captures a woman that performs complicated abortions which cause adversity. Inspired with Ang Lee’s “Sense and Sensibility”, Leigh effectively uses captivating montages capturing a woman which seeks to perform abortions which are frightening. For instance, montages enhance the abortions performing scene. During this unforgettable scene, Vera performs a dangerous abortion that causes women to face tension. Through stunning montages, Leigh captures hardships that women seeking abortion often go through. Montages are tricky techniques to use in films. As David Yates’ “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” suggested, montages are suited to magical literary adaptations. Nevertheless, they work tremendously in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Leigh captures hardship that women performing tricky abortions are always facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Vera Drake” is the set-design. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well made. Leigh deftly uses production design to capture the lives of women performing complex abortions whose lives decline. Throughout the film, Vera Drake’s costumes showcase her transformation into an abortionist with strong passion. For instance, costumes enhance the abortion consequences scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Vera performs a dangerous abortion which causes consequences there painful. One appreciates costume-design showcasing lives of women performing abortions which cause people to decline. Costumes are tricky to use in movies. As Michael Engler’s “Downtown Abbey” had suggested, costumes elevate commemorated British TV adaptations. However, they work extremely well in this movie. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Andrew Dickson’s music is key to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the frightening burden that women seeking abortion bear. Though strong production, Leigh paints a powerful portrait of abortion.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Vera Drake” is a captivating film which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses sequences of silence to capture the consequences of abortion. Leigh’s screenwriting strength is his abilities to convey the effects of abortion on women through the use of silence. For instance, silence elevates the depression scene. During this memorable scene, Susan has an emotional breakdown when she becomes aware she is pregnant in a situation causing despair. Through the use of silence, Leigh creates a compelling character that audiences can easily relate to. Silence is a complex technique to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List” demonstrated, silence elevates commemorated movies about the Holocaust. John Krasinksi’s “A Quiet Place” elevates commemorated films about apocalypse survival. However, it works tremendously in this movie. Through a bold screenplay, Leigh captures the lives of women which have abortions that often come with a painful price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Imelda Staunton delivers one of her greatest performances as Vera Drake. Staunton first achieved appreciation for playing romantic heroines in British period pieces. With “Vera Drake”, however, she took on her most tricky role. It isn’t simple to portray a woman which performs complex abortions causing tension, but she succeeded. This is the actress unlike you have ever seen her before: charismatic, emotional and vulnerable in her most commemorated role. Staunton has always excelled at playing anxious women that face stress, and “Vera Drake” exhibited her strength as an actress. With riveting expressions, she captures angst, desperation and resentment of a commemorated woman that seeks to perform abortions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most celebrated British actresses today.
While the movies is mainly a big showcase for Imelda Staunton, the supporting cast is also amazing. Sally Hawkins is superb, bringing emotional vulnerability to a woman that has unintended pregnancy that causes adversity. Eddie Marsan is excellent, capturing tension experienced by a husband that is trapped in a broken marriage causing depression. Finally, Lesley Manville deserves appreciation. As an aristocratic woman, she brings elegance to the movies
Finally, “Vera Drake” will earn appreciation of everyone for capturing abortions that cause heartache. Unlike most films about abortion, it tackles strong themes which everyone would relate to. It discusses strong subjects including identity, marriage and unintended pregnancy which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with Britain’s history of abortions to appreciate it. It delivers a heartwarming message about abortion which would definitely resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Vera Drake” is one of those rare commemorated movies about the process of abortion that everyone would really adore.
Fans of Imelda Staunton will recognize “Vera Drake” and so will movie-goers which seek enlightening entertainment. A spellbinding classic about the abortion process, it pays tribute to an actress achieving success.
Nearly 25 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about courageous women seeking to perform complex abortions for women that are time-consuming, it’s a riveting reminder of a commemorated actress that has built a lasting legacy earning a huge fan following for her abilities to portray compelling characters in captivating movies which are definitely without a single doubt absolutely worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 