One way is by regularly performing illegal abortions on young girls. Inevitably, something goes wrong and she is arrested and her whole poor-but-happy world crumbles.
Staunton turns in an outstanding performance, going through all the emotions from A to Z with a truth that is quite unsettling.
Leigh's films are always ensemble events and here there are many fine turns from actors like Philip Davis (as her husband Stan), Daniel Mays (as her nylons-dealing son) and Alex Kelly (as an upper class girl who gets a posh abortion elsewhere).
Leigh's own script is spot-on and conjures up the gloomy 1950s atmosphere, when washing machines and televisions were the epitome of luxurious achievement.
As with many first-class films, Vera Drake is not getting a general release and will have to be sought out at the selected cinemas showing it. It is worth the search.
