"Vera Drake"
2004
Directed by Mike Leigh

Imelda Staunton gives the performance of a lifetime as Vera Drake, a loving wife and mother who cleans houses by day and performs illegal abortions by night. Mike Leigh's masterful film, set in gray 1950's England, is a devastatingly effective portrait of an everyday woman whose commitment to helping others runs her afoul of the law. Through period detail and nuanced performances, Leigh crafts an earnestly felt drama that transcends politics to become "a prime example of how genuine drama terrifies and uplifts us. It also reveals how controversial subjects can seem fresh and new in the hands of a master director and a great ensemble cast" (Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune). Nominated for 3 Academy Awards (Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay).  125 minutes.