vera drake ?

[crete]

id not seen this film before, i so enjoyed it was she wicked or not ?

[unruliejulie]

aww crete, i wanted to see it but missed it! Was it really good????
I loved her in Mrs Henderson presents.

[FoxLee]

I don't think she was wicked. She didn't take any money for the 'service' she provided and I think she genuinely just wanted to help these young girls who'd made a mistake. It's hard to imagine (or remember if you're old enough) how things were in the fifties - no going along to a clinic and having an abortion on demand. It was an absolute disgrace in those days for a single girl to become pregnant bringing shame on the family.

Incidentally, i don't remember Imelda Staunton being in Mrs. Henderson Presents - are you confusing her with Judi Dench?

[Llamatron]

Was Imelda Staunton in Mrs Henderson?

[Llamatron]

Oops, you beat me to it.

[crete]

unrulie. its the best film ive seen on t v for a long time, try and see it, the effect on her family was so extreme and totally believable

[makemesmile]

It's such a brilliant film, not a bad performance from any of the cast, but what I find so awful about the situation, back then, was the rules were made by men, upheld by men, acted out by men but it was always the women that suffered. Ok, I'll get off my feminist soap box....

[makemesmile]

And in answer to your question (sorry, forgot!) no I don't think she was wicked. She genuinely wanted to help the girls. She'd been in their situation, and so offered them the same solution that she has used. But the 'go between' (can't remember her name), she was! She gave Vera none of the fee, and then sold her sugar, sweets etc. What a cow!

[galltin]

Superbly acted film , Imelda Staunton deserved the BAFTA.

[saxy_jag]

Lovely film, and no, I don't think she was wicked. Just a kind-hearted woman who wanted to help.

I can't help thinking whether the police were really so understanding with her though.