The FIFA World Cup is having a rare break today (8 July) as eight nations - including England - gear up for the quarter-finals, so that means you may have a little bit more time to catch a film.
Our suggestion today is Vera Drake, a British period drama from acclaimed writer-director Mike Leigh. Originally released in 2004, the film boasts a star-studded cast including Imelda Staunton and Daniel Mays, and was also widely lauded by critics.
The drama follows the titular character, a working-class housekeeper in 1950s London who provides illegal abortions for women with unwanted pregnancies. After her activities are discovered by the authorities, Vera finds herself in a personal crisis.
Who's in Vera Drake?
• Imelda Staunton as Vera Drake
• Phil Davis as Stan Drake
• Daniel Mays as Sid Drake
• Alex Kelly as Ethel Drake
• Eddie Marsan as Reg
• Adrian Scarborough as Frank Drake
• Sally Hawkins as Susan
• Lesley Manville as Mrs Wells
• Jim Broadbent as Judge
• Chris O'Dowd as Sid's Customer
• Lesley Sharp as Jessie Barnes
What did critics say about Vera Drake?
The period drama garnered acclaim from critics, with Rotten Tomatoes currently reporting an impressive approval rating of 92% from 159 reviews. The audience score is also high, at 84%.
Furthermore, it attained three nominations - Best Actress for Staunton, Best Director for Leigh and Best Original Screenplay - at the 77th Academy Awards, while it won the first two categories at the 58th BAFTAs that year.
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"Aside from the performances, which are uniformly excellent, the greatest strength of Mike Leigh's drama is its non-judgmental stance on abortion," wrote BBC.com, while The Times called it "gripping" (via Rotten Tomatoes).
Film Comment was also full of praise as they called it "wonderfully subtle and relentlessly harrowing", while New York Daily News dubbed it "perfect down to the last detail" (via Rotten Tomatoes).
"Vera Drake acts as a potent reminder of where society has been and it was a frightening and dangerous period of history that no woman should have to re-live and this film makes that crystal clear," opined Cinema Sight.
Where can I watch Vera Drake?
The film is currently available to stream on StudioCanal Presents, which can be purchased as an add-on channel for existing Prime Video subscribers. You can currently get a seven-day free trial, before it then costs £4.99 a month.
The film is also currently available on Netflix in the UK, so you can watch it there too! Alternatively, if you want to rent or buy the period drama as opposed to streaming it, then it costs £3.49 and £5.99 respectively.
Other Imelda Staunton movies you can stream now
If you do choose to get StudioCanal Presents, then you can watch the first two Paddington films, where Staunton voices the role of Aunt Lucy. The third instalment, Paddington in Peru, isn't currently streaming.
If you have Sky Cinema or NOW, then you can watch animated festive treat Arthur Christmas and British rom-com Finding Your Feet, while the first Downton Abbey film is on ITVX until 27 July.
Vera Drake is streaming on StudioCanal Presents and Netflix in the UK.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
