Vera Drake

Vera Drake (2004) is a British film directed by Mike Leigh. The movie recounts the story of a working-class woman in London in 1950, whose values conflict with the expectations of society.

Improvisation

The entire film, as with all Mike Leigh's film and television work, was developed through an extended improvisation with the actors. Only Imelda Staunton knew ahead of time that the subject of the film was abortion. None of cast playing the family members, including Imelda, knew that Vera was to be arrested until the moment the actors playing the police knocked on the door of the house they were using for rehearsals. Their genuine reactions of shock and confusion provided the raw material for the dialogue and actions when scenes were subsequently committed to film.

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