Product Information
Set in 1950s England. Vera Drake leads something of a double-life. She is a selfless mother, who cares for her family and her sick neighbour. She also secretly visits pregnant women to induce miscarriages. When the authorities uncover her hidden life, Vera's world comes crushing down...Product Identifiers
EAN5060049145990
eBay Product ID (ePID)45065534
Product Key Features
ActorPhilip Davis, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton
Film/TV TitleVera Drake
Aspect Ratio1.85 Wide Screen
DirectorMike Leigh
FormatDVD
Release Year2005
LanguageEnglish
FeaturesCast and Crew Documentary\Trailer, Widescreen, Closed Caption
GenreDrama, General
Run Time120 Mins
Additional Product Features
Certificate12A/12
Number of Discs1
Hearing ImpairedEnglish
ReviewsTime Out - Superb, Film Review - Flawlessly acted, Daily Mail - The most magnificent film of the year. A masterwork., The Guardian - Outstanding. A powerful, stunningly acted film, Esquire - Extraordinary... Not to be missed, Elle - Blisterlingly powerful
Additional InformationMike 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 neighbours out of the kindness of her heart. She even attempts to be a matchmaker for her daughter, inviting a lonely neighbour, 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 gruelling 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 theatre.
AwardsBest Direction 2004 - Mike Leigh, Best Actress 2004 - Imelda Staunton
Sound sourceDolby Digital 5.1
Format DescriptionDVD 9