Episode 119: Mike Leigh’s “Vera Drake”
A discussion on Mike Leigh’s 2004 film, “Vera Drake.”
In 2004, Mike Leigh released his most controversial film to date. “Vera Drake” was a film that tackled the abortion social issue in England in the 1950s. What is so interesting about “Vera Drake” is how grey Mike Leigh presents the issue. It would be far too easy to present this material as right or wrong, black or white, Mike Leigh simply presents these characters as people trying their best to get through life and perhaps help someone along the way
What led Mike Leigh to explore the abortion issue in “Vera Drake?” What did Imelda Stanton’s performance as Vera Drake bring to the film? And out of all of his films, why is “Vera Drake” the most overlooked?
Mike Leigh’s “Vera Drake” is the subject of episode 119 of the AuteurCast…
