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movie review - Vera Drake

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

This is an interesting story about the state of abortion in the UK in the 1950's. It follows the story of a working-class woman who does abortions (for free) for women of all circles even in an era when abortions were difficult to acquire even for the wealthy.

When one of her abortions somehow goes awry, an investigation drags her entire family into the fray, with each family member reacting according to their own character (and in some cases, motivations).

Beautifully cast, and with excellent pace and sets, it's a joy to watch even though the story is an unhappy one. I don't recall having seen any film set in mid-twentieth-century London that didn't deal strictly with the leisure class or in war or spy settings.

Recommended.