A low income level mother and wife brings tragedy to her family when her secret beliefs and practices land her in prison in "Vera Drake," the latest picture from writer/director Mike Leigh.

"Vera Drake," follows the title character, showing her to be the nicest woman in Britain during the 1950s, until the police show up at her door and take her into custody. The story is first peppered with contrasting lifestyles between Drake's family and the upper class families she works for, the rape and pregnancy of a young woman, as well as the unusually awkward but cute engagement of her daughter Ethel.

Eventually, we find out Vera is performing at home abortions on young and middle aged women alike, but without the knowledge of her family. She receives references from her friend in passing conversation, but what she doesn't know is, her friend has been making money on what Vera considers "helping young girls set things right."

Things turn ugly for Vera when one of her charity cases is hospitalized with infection and almost dies. Doctors and police put pressure the mother of the unimpregnated girl to start naming names. Vera is arrested for the crime and sentenced to prison for two and a half years.

Imelda Staunton (Shakespeare in Love) received an Academy Award® nomination for portraying the title character. This was by far the most unusual and unlike-the-actress role I've seen her play. She had me in disbelief. There is one extremely long shot on her, when the police show up to arrest her, in which Staunton shows a master's level of control over her tools. The actress shows during her transition, she knows exactly why the police are there and is suddenly scared, embarrassed and disturbed without saying a word.

Richard Graham (In the Name of the Father) plays her husband George with strength and anger impressively, especially after he is told why she is arrested. The scene in which Vera finally tells him is angonizing and strong.

The picture presents the issue of abortion in a period piece. I was expecting to see a pro-choice picture with Leigh's political agenda scattered all over it. However, Leigh performed an absolutely superb and difficult task by subtilty presenting small arguments for both sides of the issue, of which I really enjoyed.

Anti-abortion statements were made completely in context from the doctor of the near fatale patient of Vera's as well as the title character's own son, while pro-choice statements were made from the future son-in-law Regg. I do not recall the character of Vera ever making a political statement, justifying why she was doing her operations to abort pregnant women. At one point, she suggests what she was doing, she doesn't consider abortion, but that's about it.

Instead, Leigh as a writer established Vera had an abortion years ago and has been helping other women with them since. Leigh's talents as a director were solid during a monologue from George's brother Stan. He stares past the camera, shocked after hearing the news of why Vera was arrested, and just having told his pregnant wife--another great contrast, and explains how long he's known Vera, since childhood. Without a single word to lead you to believe it, the performance and shot selection told you brother Stan was the child of Vera's aborted baby, and brother George doesn't know about it, nor Stan's wife. I was so excited for the choices made by both actor and director in that scene. It was strong as hell.

However, the rest of the film is signature Academy Award® nominated Mike Leigh style (Secrets and Lies, Topsy-Turvy); details, details, details, DETAILS. The picture is littered with details about characters, life choices not relating to the story, etc. The process of Vera being arrested could not have gone longer. The picture didn't seem to drag to me, but it did feel like a long two hours and five minutes, if that at all makes sense.

Overall, "Vera Drake" had interesting characters, compelling personal stories, but a LOT of unnecessary scenes. I loved that Leigh gave the world this picture about abortion, simply to maybe begin debates about the issue yet again. With the film's balance of sides in the issue, it's difficult to figure why else he would've made the picture this way. I think this is maybe one of his best films, but it still demands an acquired taste for his style. Your chances of liking this picture are fifty-fifty in my opinion.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?