Video Americain

Review

Vera Drake is the quintessential British housewife, unremittingly cheerful, humming softly to herself as she cares for her family, looks in on ailing relatives and neighbors, cleans the houses of the wealthy and helps young girls that are "in trouble." That last item is something she does without her family's knowledge and for no remuneration; it falls under her guiding life principal of helping those who need it. While the rich go to very expensive doctors and tell the right story to obtain this service, the poor must go underground and pray that they find someone with Vera's kind sensibilities. When, after decades of providing this assistance, one of her clients reacts badly to the induced miscarriage and needs emergency hospital treatment, Vera's activities are discovered by the authorities, and she and her family face a condescending, patriarchal legal system, harsh judgment from some of their peers, and conflict within their once harmonious and mutually supportive family. Director Leigh does a masterful job of creating 1950s London, still recovering from the devastation wrought by WWII, with crowded living conditions, scarce and expensive basic supplies, and a population still traumatized by their wartime experiences, both on the front lines and at home; he speaks volumes in seconds, with a throwaway line or an averted glance. The ensemble delivers uniformly seamless performances: they hold their bodies in postures found in old family photographs; when they speak, you remember an uncle or aunt recounting stories from the old days. They all revolve around Vera, a sterling portrayal presented with intelligence and deep feeling by Staunton. This is arguably Leigh's most accomplished work to date; it is deliberately paced, yet the two hours pass quickly and the film stays with you long after its viewing.

 -- Ann Yarabinee