"A prime example of how genuine drama terrifies and uplifts us. It also reveals how controversial subjects can seem fresh and new in the hands of a master director and a great ensemble cast." Michael Wilmington CHICAGO TRIBUNE "Every detail of the film breathes with authenticity, fully creating the grimy, working-class world of post-war London, and the characters behave like real people." Eric D Snider ERICDSNIDER.COM "An excellent film with one of the year's best performances by Imelda Staunton." Christopher Smith BANGOR DAILY NEWS MAINE "Staunton is heartbreakingly fine." Carrie Rickey PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER "Vera Drakefeatures beautifully modest storytelling that's honest in pacing and tone and embarrassingly rich in detail." Nathaniel Rogers FILM EXPERIENCE

"A tremendously moving portrait of a woman whose morality is so simple and pure that discovering a diametrically opposed point of view nearly destroys her." Eugene Novikov FILM BLATHER "Beautifully shot and impeccably acted, Vera Drake will keep your mind reeling well after leaving the theater." Rachel Gordon FILMCRITIC.COM "Staunton's performance as Vera is so majestic and compassionate that we feel we know everything about her." Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS "Staunton is absolutely astonishing in the title role of this quiet, sad film about the dangers and consequences of what we could call the pre-choice era." Glenn Kenny, PREMIERE MAGAZINE "In absorbing drama and staggering emotions, it renders an issue too often seen as black or white in heartbreaking gray." Shawn Levy OREGONIAN

The Inside Story

"The question that makes the movie subversive is one it never asks, even though contemporary audiences probably will: Where would women be if we returned to a world like this?" Bruce Newman SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

Imelda Staunton is a name many cinemagoers were probably unfamiliar with. That was until recently when the final nominations for the 2005 Academy Awards were announced and her name popped up amongst such outstanding, well known international cinema actresses as, Kate Winslet, Annette Bening and Oscar winner Hilary Swank. Imelda who? That was the question on everyones lips. The other question being asked was who had seen the film "Vera Drake" in which Staunton appears as Vera, a loving, compassionate, hard working wife and mother who not only helps provide for the needs of her family living in post war London, but also helps women when they have a problem. Once witnessed, there's no doubting the worthiness of Staunton's nomination and her amazing performance, which is certainly worthy of an Oscar. While Staunton has appeared in films such as "Much Ado About Nothing" [1993], "Shakespeare in Love" [1998], "Crush" [2001] and "Bright Young Things" [2003], it is on the stage and in television that she has crafted a most rewarding career as an actress, one that has been recognized with three of the UK’s most prestigious Olivier theatre awards, a Best Actress Award [Stephen Sondheim’s "Into the Woods"] and two Best Supporting Actress Awards ["The Corn Is Green" and "A Chorus Of Disapproval"]. On television Staunton has appeared in a number of mini series including, "The Singing Detective" [1986], "Look at the State We're In!" [1995] and "Cambridge Spies" [2003] while her voice has been used for characters in "The Snow Queen's Revenge" [1996], "The Canterbury Tales" [1998] and "Chicken Run" [2000]. It's fair to say that the subject matter of Vera Drake is as controversial today as it was back in what many women would call the dark ages before woman gained the right to have an abortion performed by a legally qualified medical practitioner. Abortion is a subject that has in more recent times divided many communities, lead to violent confrontation, intense lobbying to political parties and huge street marches for those who are pro-abortion and those who believe in the 'right to life' and the protection of the unborn fetus. I for one, thank God [who many believe is the sole authority when it comes to living and dying], that I wasn't born a woman. You remember God don't you? He's the one who, when everything is going great we say 'Thank God I'm alive' and when a natural disaster occurs or we are struck down with a terminal illness we blame him by asking "Why have you done this to me God". Just as controversial as the matter of a womans right to choose to terminate a pregnancy, is a womans right to sell her body for money in the act known as prostitution. Now, while you and I may not personally agree with a womans right to either have an abortion or work as a prostitute, women have been choosing to do so for centuries. That doesn't make it right or wrong. It's just a fact! And the fact is that as a mere male, I can not even imagine what many women would go through when making the choice to either have an abortion or choosing to prostitute themselves. And before people start writing to me, I know that it's all the fault of us men. Yes us mere males, the ultimate scapegoat for some women, but thankfully, not all women. Whether it's right or wrong, the question I ask is this, "do women want to go back to those terrible times when abortions were performed by the unqualified, using proceedures that left many women scarred and later to find they were unable to conceive and raise a family of their own? And what about those instances when a medical intervention is made to save a woman's life by performing a termination or where an unborn child would tragically have no quality of life due to terrible defects that occured during its growth while in the womb? No doubt this compassionate film, bravely conceived by Director, Writer Mike Leigh will raise many questions amongst those who see it. "Vera Drake" is a film that one could easily say is "a must see", but not just because Vera Drake performs abortions. It is a wonderful period piece that captures a mood and spirit of the post war era remarkably well. When asked about the dark appearance of the film Leigh offers, "The early post-war years were grimy and functional. In 1950, much of what was around was still pre-war. With my usual team; Dick Pope, director of photography, Eve Stewart, production designer, Jacqueline Durran, costumes, we created this dark, utilitarian monochromatic look. Shooting it was a very rewarding experience. Despite Vera’s optimism and gaiety, the spirit of the film inevitably has a certain darkness. But in the dance-hall sequence, where people are having fun, we lift the colours a little." On the look of the characters, who appear to be much older than their years he says, "Yes, people did look older and more weathered. I grew up in the industrial North of England, and I remember how working class people looked. Tough lives, stodgy food, few cosmetics. Even the kids dressed like middle-aged people." While "Vera Drake" focusses on Vera and her crime, there is a bigger focus on her family and the life they lead. There is also the question of the 'politics' of the time. "Family is indeed my subject, and families are microcosms of society. All my films are political, not least Vera Drake, which shows an individual outlawed by society and its systems," says Leigh. "Of course, I don’t deal with politics as such. You don’t hear political arguments or see politicians. The film is a distilled, cinematic, universal metaphor, and many aspects of the characters’ immediate world would be irrelevant." Leigh also says he wanted to show the necessary evil of abortion in the era. "In this film, which takes place at a time when abortion was still mostly illegal in England, I wanted to show the predicament of people who simply believed that terminating unwanted pregnancies was a necessary evil. Vera Drake is a positive, life-loving person. Yet she has become a compassionate abortionist in her spare time." And he also tackles the case of class division. The haves and the have nots where a wealthy young girl obtains a surgical proceedure legally while a mother of seven from the working class is left with one option only. "Yes," he admits revealing, "this was absolutely crystal clear. Under a loophole in the law, a termination could be allowed if it could be demonstrated that the woman was in physical danger because of her psychological state. But of course a working-class girl wouldn’t know that, and wouldn’t have access to such an expensive and discreet system. I thought it important to contrast these two cultures, given that anybody could accidentally fall pregnant, irrespective of class." Mike Leigh has certainly stuck his neck out with "Vera Drake", something many women will thank God for. The subject of abortion will always divide women and men, rich or poor, and force governments and churches to make their stand one way or the other. While "Vera Drake" poses many questions there is one that film critic Bruce Newman of the San Jose Mercury News asks so well; "Where would women be if we returned to a world like this?" With women's right and their ongoing struggle to be treated equally, it's a question I too asked myself. Which led to a more important question arising. "Do I, as a man, have the authority to take away the hard fought rights of women who believe their body, and what they do with it, is their own responsibility, and not that of the 'State' or powerful lobby groups? It's a question I'll ponder over and wrestle with in my mind. Once again, don't bother writing with helpful emails that 'tell' me how I should think. It's a well known fact us men can get ourselves in trouble without any outside help. Crew Bytes "VERA DRAKE" was .......
directed by Mike Leigh ["High Hopes", "Naked", "Secrets & Lies" and "All or Nothing"]; screenplay by Mike Leigh ["Bleak Moments", "Life Is Sweet", "Naked" and "Career Girls"]; costume design by Jacqueline Durran ["All Or Nothing", "Topsy-Turvy", "Medea" and "Yes"]; production design by Eve Stewart ["Career Girls", "Secrets and Lies", "Nicholas Nickleby" and "Saving Grace"]; edited by Jim Clark ["The Gathering Storm", "The Mission", "The Killing Fields" and "The World Is Not Enough"]; director of photograhpy Dick Pope ["Life Is Sweet", "Naked", "Topsy-Turvy" and "De-Lovely"]; original music by Andrew Dickson ["Meantime", "High Hopes", "Naked" and "All Or Nothing"] produced by Simon Channing-Williams ["High Hopes", "When The Whales Came", "Man About Dog" and "Nicholas Nickleby"] and Alain Sarde ["All Or Nothing", "Nathalie", "The Tennant" and "The Pianist"]. Casting About "VERA DRAKE" stars .......
Imelda Staunton ["Comrades", "Antonia and Jane", "Remember Me?" and "Blackball"]; Richard Graham ["Under Suspicion", "Titanic", "Bravo Two Zero" and "Arthur's Dyke"]; Anna Keaveney ["Shirley Valentine", "The Young Americans", "The 51st State" and "Ali G Indahouse"]; Alex Kelly ["All or Nothing"]; Daniel Mays ["Pearl Harbor" and "All Or Nothing"]; Phil Davis ["The Old Curiosity Shop", "The Bounty", "Photographing Fairies", "Alien 3" and "Nicholas Nickleby"]; Lesley Manville ["High Hopes", "Secrets and Lies", "Topsy-Turvy" and "Toy Boys"]; Sally Hawkins ["All Or Nothing", "Byron " and "Layer cake"]; Simon Chandler ["The Taming Of The Shrew", "The Bounty",, "The Commissioner", "The Man Who Knew Too Little" and "Milk"]; Sam Troughton ["Sylvia" and "Alien vs Predator"] and Eddie Marsan ["Crime and Punishment", "Crime and Punishment", "Gangs of New York" and "21 Grams"] as Reg. What It's All About

"Leigh takes the steady pulse of one woman’s quietly remarkable life and turns it into one of the most absorbing, memorable films of the year." Brian Gibson VUE WEEKLY EDMONTON CANADA

Vera Drake is a loving wife, mother and friend to many. Always willing to help out Vera is respected by many in the neighbourhood. Life is tough in post war London but Vera, husband Stan, son Sid and their daughter Ethel, manage to scrape through. When Vera invites Reg over for dinner their is an attraction between him and Ethel. Love blooms and an engagement is announced. Vera and Stan invite his brother and wife over for a celebration. Everything seems perfect, until there is a knock on the door. Four police officers have come to interview and arrest Vera. An awful secret is about top be revealed. The Verdict "One of the finest individual performances from a british actress you'll ever see and certainly worthy of an Oscar. Imelda Staunton is amazing in the lead role of Vera Drake. The feel of the characters and the era is totally convincing while the subject matter is as relevant and controversial today as it was then. Highly Recommended." The Cast

Imelda Staunton Richard Graham Eddie Marsan Anna Keaveney Alex Kelly Daniel Mays Phil Davis Lesley Manville Sally Hawkins Simon Chandler Sam Troughton Marion Bailey Sandra Voe Chris O'Dowd Adrian Scarborough Heather Craney Leo Bill Gerard Monaco Ruth Sheen Tilly Vosburgh Nicky Henson Allan Corduner Angie Wallis Judith Scott Vinette Robinson Peter Wight Martin Savage Helen Coker Tom Ellis

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Vera George Reg Nellie Ethel Sid Stan Mrs Wells Susan Mr Wells David Mrs Fowler Vera's mother Sid's customer Frank Joyce Ronny Kenny Lily Mother of Seven Private Doctor Psychiatrist Nurse Willoughby Sister Beech Jamaican Girl Det Inspector Webster Det Sergeant Vickers WPC Best Police Constable

The Crew Directed by Mike Leigh Written by Mike Leigh Produced by Simon Channing-Williams Original Music by Andrew Dickson Cinematography by Dick Pope Film Editing by Jim Clark Casting by Nina Gold Production Design by Eve Stewart Art Direction by Ed Walsh Set Decoration by John Bush Costume Design by Jacqueline Durran Unit Production Manager Danielle Brandon Run Time 125 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2005 - Fine Line Features - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2005 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved