Mike Leigh is one of the best directors making movies these days. It is so rare to see a movie about people, just normal people like you and me. So often in Hollywood movies are made that involve characters who don’t even work menial jobs. Characters in films are often artists, chefs, journalists, doctors, etc. In Leigh’s movies you get the rare opportunity to see characters who work jobs that average people can relate to. Mike Leigh’s films are strong pieces of both acting and story. His movies are dialogue driven and they rely primarily on the acting of those in the film. He is lucky that he gets such wonderful performances out of his actors. However, I am sure that they act well because they are in such gifted hands as his.

Vera Drake is the most recent Mike Leigh film. And it is very much like his previous films. Vera Drake tells the story of a woman and her family. The woman, Vera Drake, cleans houses, takes care of elderly people, and she also performs back alley abortions for poor women. I was nervous going into this film based on it’s topic. However, I trusted Mike Leigh since he’s never really let me down before. I had heard the rave reviews, and finally I decided to rent it. I am so glad that I did.

Yes, abortion is a topic in Vera Drake. However, it’s not an "abortion movie". Abortion is not the only topic discussed in the film. Instead, this is a standard Mike Leigh film about people. The characters in Vera Drake are so well developed. You can’t help but to get caught up in their lives. Yes, you see Vera performing a procedure on women that is designed to cause a miscarriage, but that isn’t all that Vera is about. She is a mother, a wife, a daughter. Her husband thinks of her very highly. However, it’s not until late in the film that her family finds out about her side job.

The best acting in the film is by Imelda Staunton. There is a scene where her family is having a party. The cops arrive to question Vera. She sees the cops. They haven’t said why they are there. She already knows. The camera shows her face as she sees the cops. Slowly her face changes. You can tell she knows. That simple scene is quiet, but her change in facial expression speaks volumes.

After her family finds out why she is arrested, it causes problems as is to be expected. There is a beautiful scene where Vera’s husband and son talk about all that has happened. They both speak openly about what she has done. Vera’s husband is so upset by what she has done, but he never lets her see his anger. It’s more important to him that he be there for her regardless of how he feels about her actions.

Vera Drake never really offers a political stance on abortion. There are people in the movie on both sides of the issue. I think that regardless of your stance on abortion, you will be able to get something out of the movie. Abortion is not glorified. In fact, some of the girls who have the procedure are distraught after having it, and ultimately Vera’s work in doing these procedures tears her family apart. When she arrives at the police station, they make her take off her wedding ring. She says it’s the first time in 27 years she’s ever taken it off. This is a huge symbol for what's happening to her life. Now after 27 years of marriage, she will never get back what she once had. It’s heartbreaking.

Overall, Vera Drake is a wonderful movie with a wonderful story and tremendous acting. Mike Leigh tells stories like nobody else can. Granted his movies are very slow, but the payoff is worth it all.