Il segreto di Vera Drake

Eric Eidelstein

We all know Imelda Staunton gives a performance for the ages, but I think I broke when she started calling the arresting officer "dear." In the midst of her arrest, a clear strain on her mental and physical health, she's still the kindest woman in the world. That, and the understanding her and Leigh have that Vera's devastation is not about guilt for what she has done, but for leaving her family. She's a saint.

Samuel T.

Maybe I'm just a sucker, but I was crying half the film. Bonus: sweater vests aplenty. Need to re-visit the Chabrol-Huppert collaboration of the same subject. I still prefer Leigh in his contemporary surroundings, and have put this off for a long time, but many cheers for the period piece. I'm glad I finally watched it. It's devastating. No longer afraid to Topsy and Turner.

Stevie

A truly heartbreaking film with an astonishing central performance. One of Mike Leigh's best and one of the best of the 21st century thus far.

Ross Tomlinson

A beautifully observed and moving film, with a heart wrenching performance from Imelda Staunton.

Arshi Rai

Yup, she is perfect, my favourite Mike Leigh.

Gonçalo Lamas

This is a good piece of the british realism, as a raw portrait of a human story, the story of the good will of a simple woman. Staunton is remarkable with an intense performance. The film only lakes a good, coherent ending, able to fully represent the moral ambiguity of the central character's position.

earman

Imelda Staunton is fantastic as a modest woman who faces scandal,scorn and prison in her efforts to help woman when they have no one else to turn to.

Jye Sherwell

3.5/5 A simply wonderful first half with delightful characters and wonderful performances. Unfortunately the pacing REALLY slows in the second half.