Meeting Persephone

In the spirit of themed blogging I've decided that I'm going to try something new one day per week - assuming I remember to continue doing it! Most of the blogs that I read do a theme day blog post on Sundays but I have decided that I'll do mine on Fridays - if only for the catchy title.

I love movies. I'm especially fond of independent films or low budget films because of the ingenuity required to express the caliber of passion of those large budget films. There is a labor of love necessary in the independent film in order to get the movie "in the can" that those Bruckheimer produced movie directors are not bound by (not to say that they don't love what they do as much as an independent film maker but the sacrifices are different). Expressions through powerfully worded scripts or lighting instead of CGI, on site filming, and costumes that would knock your socks off. They have to be creative and budget conscious at every turn often doing their part for free. They also have to attempt to recoup their expenses while getting smaller releases and less media attention for their lack of "glitz and glamour". I have the deepest respect for what they do, why they do it, and how they make it happen.

This is why I'm going to take Fridays to review those movies that have touched me for different reasons. Not all will be small budget or independent films, but hopefully I'll introduce you to some films that you haven't heard of or didn't have much knowledge about and therefore didn't see - and perhaps you'll change your mind. If nothing else though, it gives me an opportunity to get out of my head a bit and focus on something that I enjoy. I hope you enjoy it as well.

With no further ado... the first installment of "Friday Flicks"....

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Vera Drake - starring Imelda Staunton. Released in 2004 and directed by Mike Leigh.

In light of the recent tragedy in Wichita, Kansas and on-going focus on abortion I thought I'd begin with one of my favorite movies.

Vera Drake (Staunton) is a kind hearted, hard working, wife and mother in post WWII Britain. Her family is a tightly knit unit consisting of Vera's husband, Stan, and their adult children, Ethel and Sid all living in a small (by American standards) flat. We are immediately drawn into the daily life of Vera as she makes her way to call on and assist disabled neighbors and her ill and elderly mother and takes care of their immediate needs before heading off to her various house cleaning jobs.

Despite their closeness, her family is utterly ignorant of one important detail of Vera's day to day life. Using a syringe, Vera induces miscarriage for newly pregnant women who cannot, for various reasons, bear the pregnancy. Lily, a post war black-market profiteer, is setting up these abortions for desperate women, giving Vera an address for each frightened woman in need, but is taking a fee from each woman unbeknownst to Vera - who's taking nothing for her service.

We are also introduced to a young woman named Susan whose parents employ Vera to clean their home. Susan's life is in direct contrast to Vera's as well as those women Vera aides as her family is very wealthy. When Susan is raped by a young man and becomes pregnant she is able to procure a safe abortion performed by an actual doctor at an exhorbitant price after jumping through a few various hoops including a visit to a psychologist - an option most certainly not available to those less well-to-do women Vera is helping.

Vera is a character immediately likable and endearing because of her sweet nature and open-hearted approach with everyone she deals with. You watch her care for and calm everyone in her presence with her kindly ways and learn to care for her as a truly decent person. When the unthinkable happens, your heart breaks for this gentle lady and outrage for the injustice is like bile in the throat.

Whatever your views on abortion, the contrasts in this movie bring awarenesses to light that truly need to be considered on all sides. Not least of which is the domination of men in these decisions pertaining to women and their bodies. The plot of this movie and its character relationships are key. It's not a film of thrills and frills but naked humble honesty.

The Trash Heap has spoken.