Powerful juju. A working class woman "helps out" young women by giving them abortions in post war England. One of her clients nearly dies from complications, Vera is arrested, imprisoned and becomes a social pariah.
Lots of solid touches here. Leigh has long been known as a champion of the lower orders. Here he makes his point by showing the contrast in the way a monied woman deals with her problem pregnancy. She, incidentally is played by Sally Hawkins, recently triumphant in Happy-Go-Lucky. The contrast between her character there and here is startling.
Ms. Staunton is wonderful in the title role. She moves from being a jaunty, cheerful lively little sparkplug to a haunted, drawn aged convict, scorned by friend and foe for her misdeeds.
This one is up there with Secrets and Lies as his finest work.
7
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