Vera Drake 2004

Drama

Crime

Box Office

$13M

Runtime

125 min

Language

English

Directed by

Mike Leigh

Made by

Fine Line Features

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Vera Drake Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Vera Drake (2004). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Vera Drake, portrayed by Imelda Staunton, is a woman whose life revolves around her family. She dedicates herself to caring for her husband, children, elderly mother, and even a sick neighbor. Vera’s daughter, Ethel (Alex Kelly), toils away in a factory, while her son, Sid (Daniel Mays), is busy tailoring men’s suits. Her husband, Stanley (Phil Davis), earns a living as a car mechanic. Despite their modest lifestyle, the strength of their family ties keeps them united and resilient.

In addition to being a house cleaner, what remains hidden from her loved ones is Vera’s clandestine role as a backroom abortionist. Driven by compassion rather than profit, she does not accept payment for her services, believing it to be an altruistic act. However, her partner, Lily (Ruth Sheen), a savvy businesswoman involved in the black market, profits from the arrangements without Vera’s awareness.

As the narrative unfolds, we are also introduced to Susan (Sally Hawkins), one of Vera’s employer’s daughters, whose plight becomes a poignant subplot. After being raped by a boyfriend, Susan finds herself pregnant and seeks assistance from a friend to find a doctor who performs abortions. In a rather disturbing twist, a psychiatrist manipulates her responses, ensuring he can recommend the procedure by suggesting she might be in such despair that she could harm herself.

While the financial amounts discussed in the film may appear negligible today, it is crucial to note that two guineas in 1950 would equate to an impressive £48 in 2005, and a hundred guineas—required for a psychiatrist-sanctioned abortion—would reach a staggering £2400. This stark contrast highlights the economic context of the story and the struggles faced by its characters.

Vera Drake Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Vera Drake (2004) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Vera's Family Life

Vera Drake dedicates her life to taking care of her immediate family, including her husband, children, elderly mother, and a sick neighbor. Despite their modest means, Vera's strong familial bonds provide them with resilience and support.

Ethel and Sid's Struggles

Vera's daughter Ethel works hard in a factory, contributing to the family's financial struggles. Meanwhile, her son Sid is busy tailoring men's suits, both of which highlight the economic challenges faced by the family in post-war Britain.

Stanley's Mechanics Job

Stanley, Vera's husband, works as a car mechanic to provide for the family. His job represents the typical working-class struggle in the 1950s, as they attempt to make ends meet and maintain their family unity.

Vera's Secret

Unknown to her family, Vera secretly performs illegal abortions as a backroom abortionist. Driven by compassion, she offers her services for free, believing she is helping women in need without realizing the moral and legal implications of her actions.

Lily's Involvement

Vera’s partner, Lily, secretly profits from Vera's abortion services. Unlike Vera, who acts out of a desire to help, Lily operates within the black market, illustrating the darker aspects of their clandestine operation.

Introduction of Susan

Susan, the daughter of one of Vera's employers, is introduced as a critical character. After a traumatic incident of rape, Susan's life is thrown into turmoil, and she finds herself dealing with an unwanted pregnancy.

Susan's Search for Help

Desperate for assistance, Susan seeks help from a friend to find a doctor who can perform an abortion. Her journey highlights the desperate situation many women faced in a society that offered little support or understanding for their plight.

Manipulation by the Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist takes advantage of Susan's vulnerability. By manipulating her responses during their interactions, he ensures that he can recommend an abortion, cruelly exploiting her despair for his own agenda.

Financial Context

The film reflects on the financial ramifications surrounding abortion during the era. Two guineas, which may appear trivial today, equated to £48 in 2005, revealing the significant economic burden on women seeking such services.

1950

Societal Pressures

As the characters navigate their struggles, the film explores the societal pressures that compel women like Susan to seek illegal abortions. These pressures often stem from stigmas surrounding unwanted pregnancies and lack of accessible reproductive healthcare.

Climactic Revelations

As the narrative progresses, the consequences of Vera's actions begin to unravel. The tension rises as her secretive life as an abortionist threatens to collide with her cherished family existence, leading to inevitable conflict.

Impact on Family Dynamics

The revelation of Vera's clandestine activities will strain her family dynamics, putting her loved ones in a position of emotional turmoil. This event ultimately leads to a dramatic confrontation that tests the very fabric of their familial bonds.

Legal Consequences

The film culminates in Vera facing legal repercussions for her actions. The legal implications serve as a stark reminder of the societal attitudes towards women's rights and reproductive choices during the period.

Aftermath and Reflection

Following the catastrophic events, Vera and her family must confront the consequences of their choices. The closing scenes reflect a somber reality, highlighting the moral complexities of their lives and the era’s attitudes towards abortion.

Vera Drake Characters

Explore all characters from Vera Drake (2004). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Vera Drake (Imelda Staunton)

Vera Drake is a compassionate and selfless woman deeply devoted to her family and community. She embodies resilience, balancing her responsibilities as a homemaker with her secretive role in providing help to women in need. Vera's character is marked by her moral conviction, navigating the complexities of right and wrong in a society that fails its most vulnerable.

👩‍👧‍👦 Family ❤️ Compassion 🔍 Secret Life

Ethel Drake

Ethel, Vera's hardworking daughter, represents the younger generation striving for independence while facing economic hardship. Her role in the factory showcases the struggles of working-class women in the 1950s, caught between familial duties and personal aspirations.

👩‍🏭 Factory Worker 💪 Strength

Susan

Susan, the daughter of one of Vera's employers, embodies the plight of women seeking autonomy over their bodies. After facing trauma and an unwanted pregnancy, her journey reveals the emotional and societal challenges women faced when considering their reproductive options.

😢 Trauma 🔍 Seeking Help

Vera Drake Settings

Learn where and when Vera Drake (2004) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1950s

Set in the 1950s, the film captures a period marked by strict societal norms and limited reproductive rights for women. It reflects the economic hardships of post-war Britain, where families faced significant financial challenges while simultaneously grappling with evolving social issues surrounding women's health and autonomy.

Location

Working-class neighborhood, England

The movie takes place in a working-class neighborhood in England, characterized by modest homes and a close-knit community. This setting reflects the struggles and resilience of families during the mid-20th century, highlighting the everyday lives of its inhabitants as they navigate both personal and societal challenges.

🏘️ Neighborhood 🇬🇧 England

Vera Drake Themes

Discover the main themes in Vera Drake (2004). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🩸

Reproductive Rights

The theme of reproductive rights is central to the film, focusing on the lack of access to safe abortion procedures in post-war England. Vera Drake's illicit activities highlight the desperation faced by women like Susan, underlining the moral and ethical dilemmas in a society that restricts women's choices.

💔

Family Bonds

Family bonds are a pivotal theme in 'Vera Drake', showcasing the strength and support among its members despite economic challenges. Vera's dedication to her family contrasts sharply with her hidden life, shedding light on the sacrifices made for loved ones and the impact of secrets on familial relationships.

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Vera Drake Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Vera Drake (2004). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the austere streets of 1950s England, a modest neighbourhood lives under the quiet hum of post‑war routine. The world feels both intimate and constrained, where the rhythms of daily chores are punctuated by the unspoken doubts of a society still finding its moral footing. Against this backdrop, a gentle, steadfast presence holds the family together, offering a glimpse of compassion that seems almost out of step with the era’s rigid expectations.

Vera Drake fills her home with the soft glow of devotion, tending to a husband who works in a garage, a bustling kitchen, an aging mother, and a neighbour whose health hangs in the balance. Her daughter, Ethel, spends long hours at the factory, while her son, Sid, crafts suits in a cramped workshop, each child embodying the quiet resilience of the working class. The household moves with a rhythm of mutual support, where every small sacrifice is a testament to love’s quiet endurance.

Beneath the ordinary surface, Vera carries a secret that shapes the very core of her compassion. She offers a discreet service to women who find themselves without legal recourse, guided not by profit but by an inner belief in kindness. This hidden vocation creates a subtle tension, hinting at the moral ambiguities that ripple through the community. The tone remains tender yet laced with an undercurrent of unease, as neighbors and family members sense that the world they know is far more complex than it appears.

The film also hints at other lives intersecting with Vera’s, such as Lily, a streetwise figure who navigates the shadowy edges of the city’s informal economy, and Susan, a young woman whose own predicament brushes against the same fragile boundaries. Their fleeting connections suggest a web of silent struggles, inviting the audience to contemplate how ordinary affection can become a quiet act of rebellion in a restrictive age.

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