Vera Drake
A compassionate working-class housewife’s secret abortion work exposes the human cost of 1950s England’s reproductive laws.
Overview
A devoted woman finds her life shattered by the very help she offers to others.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- intimate
- melancholic
- compassionate
- quiet evening
- social issue discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly acclaim the film for bringing profound humanity and moral complexity to illegal abortion through Imelda Staunton's piercing performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Vera's caring family life is gradually forced into confrontation with the consequences and legality of her clandestine work.
Working-class domestic routines, ration-era scarcity, policing, and family reactions are rendered through Mike Leigh's naturalistic approach.
Vera secretly assists women with unwanted pregnancies because abortion is illegal in 1950s England.
The film contrasts Vera's dangerous illegal work with the different circumstances and treatment surrounding women from more privileged backgrounds.
Films like Vera Drake, and why
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
socially conscious historical drama centered on reproductive rights, moral complexity, and a compassionate female protagonist
The Cider House Rules
period drama about abortion law and class inequality with restrained realism and intense emotional consequence
Secrets & Lies
naturalistic British social drama exploring class, family pressure, and institutional judgment
The Magdalene Sisters
empathetic historical drama about a woman confronting restrictive social structures and personal sacrifice
Movie Details
- Director
- Mike Leigh
- Release Date
- 2004-10-22
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (426)
Cast
- Imelda Staunton
- Phil Davis
- Sally Hawkins
- Daniel Mays
- Eddie Marsan
- Alex Kelly
- Ruth Sheen
- Adrian Scarborough
- Heather Craney
- Lesley Manville
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- BFI Player Amazon Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Vera Drake about?
- A compassionate working-class housewife’s secret abortion work exposes the human cost of 1950s England’s reproductive laws.
- What is Vera Drake like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Vera Drake as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Vera Drake violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Vera Drake as mild.
- What did critics think of Vera Drake?
- Critics broadly acclaim the film for bringing profound humanity and moral complexity to illegal abortion through Imelda Staunton's piercing performance.
- Which films are like Vera Drake?
- Films with a similar feel include 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, The Cider House Rules, Secrets & Lies, and The Magdalene Sisters.
- How long is Vera Drake?
- Vera Drake runs 125 minutes.
- Where can I watch Vera Drake?
- In United States, Vera Drake streams on BFI Player Amazon Channel.
