PANACEA 2020

Vera Drake (2004)
Vera is a well-meaning, in the parlance
of the day, ‘kindly’, working-class
woman in London in the 1950’s who likes
to help others. Amongst her helpful
duties, she performs abortions on young
woman who have ‘got themselves in
trouble’. She accepts no payment but her
friend, Lily, who organises the service,
does charge and in turn, makes sure Vera
is looked after with occasional gifts of
black market goods. Like in real life,
the plot then goes on to show that bad
things can happen.
Vera is played by Imelda Staunton in an
exquisite performance. In fact, it is
the audience’s belief in Vera that helps
paper over inconsistencies in the plot.
The rest of the British cast are all
authentic characters from that era. Mike
Leigh was both writer and director and
used his trademark approach of immersing
the cast in the milieu of the times and
circumstances. The dialogue is
convincing and the sets embody the
nostalgia of the 50’s without
trespassing on the twee.
The movie won a Golden Lion at Venice,
was denied screening at Cannes for some
reason, lifted three BAFTAs (including
best leading actress) and was nominated
for three Academy Awards. Metacritic
give it 83/100, Rotten Tomatoes 92% and
IMDb 7.7/10.
If all, or any illegal abortionists, were as well-meaning as Vera they would not have been held in
as much disrepute. The reality was that it was highly dangerous both for the woman and the
abortionist and often carried out with poor preparation, poor counselling, poor knowledge, poor
technique and poor equipment. Some criticism was directed at the lethality of the actual technique
that Vera uses; however, until abortion was legalised in the late 60’s, it was estimated that there
were approximately 250,000 illegal abortions performed each year in the U.K. Those comments were
perhaps based on only seeing the tip of the iceberg: those that went wrong.
Well, if it is not a fair and accurate portrayal of backyard abortionists, why should it be seen by
medical students?
Well, for starters, it raises the topic.
Secondly, it authentically depicts situations that they might be exposed to in their medical
career. Pregnancy will still continue to have a possible negative effect on a woman’s future.
Abortion has persisted through the ages and even in these enlightened times will continue to be an
option. It does illustrate the contrasting options for rich and poor.
We only need to go back to the life and campaigning of Dr Bertram Wainer in Melbourne to conjure up
the rather similar situation that existed here in Australia. Seeing this movie may deter some of
those who would be tempted to revisit the past and make it a criminal offence.
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