B14 Vera Drake' tackles •^ the issue of abortion

^ Harry Forbes/CNS NEW YORK — An outstanding •2 performance by Imelda Staunton MovieReview o and an ensemble cast, a well-crafted o screenplay and direction by Mike Check out hundreds Leigh elevate this tale of an unso­ more movie reviews online -O at www.catholiccourier.com. E phisticated woman who, unbe­ > knownst to her husband and chil­ Select the Faith & Family tab, o dren, leads a double life as she then click Movie Reviews at left. performs abortions on. young > women in difficult circumstances. Leigh's "Vera Drake" tackles the The middle-aged Vera, who works difficult abortion theme with objec­ as a domestic, is guileless and sim­ tivity. His heroine (Staunton) is a ple, and thinks a cup of tea is the so- • Newmarket/CNS 0 lution to all the world's ills. OL cheery, lower-middle-class house­ Alex Kelly, Daniel Mays, Imelda Staunton and Phil Davis star in "Vera Drake." U- wife in postwar- Britain, circa 1950, O But there's another side to her that Peter Wight), close methods seem relatively benign, the with a syringe. She then tells the girl in. When they finally knock on the women's fear and sorrow at what U that in a day or two she'll feel some door and ask to speak to Vera, the they are doing is achingly evident. harlie's stomach pain,.should go to the bath­ family is flabbergasted. ' Leigh goes to pains not to make RESTAURANTS room to relieve herself, and "it will The police — portrayed as kindly Vera a heroine. Nor, to my mind, 552 Rt 104, Ontario all be over." and understanding, but firm in their does the film proselytize for abor­ 1843 Empire Blvd., Webster Vera takes no money for this task, need to see justice done — interro­ tion. The director leaves conclusions Routes 5 & 20 Canandaigua but simply sees herself as assisting gate Vera at the station house. to the viewer,.many of whom are $2~.db~dFF~ these young girls who feel they have Staunton's heart-wrenching real­ likely to note that there is retribu­ f$ LARGE QwFISH FRY tio other recourse. ization of what she's done, and the tion on every level — personal and V OR $1.00 OFF REGULAR Eventually, the mother of one of impact it will have on her family, is public — for Vera's well-intentioned, ,v * Limit four per coupon the young ladies recognizes Vera. acting of the highest order. The cam­ if misguided, actions. i FREE CHARUEBURCER * The daughter later becomes grave­ era stays on her face unflinchingly, Because of the abortion theme and BUY 1 (5«aw» CHARUEBURCER ly ill, and the mother rushes her to and you feel every ounce of her pain. one sexual situation, the USCCB Of­ the hospital, where the authorities Depressing as the subject matter fice for Film & Broadcasting classi­ & GET1 FREE £J, insist on knowing how the girl's mis- fication is L — limited adult audi­ Limit one coupon per customer '.-- * is, the period atmosphere provides visual interest and there's always ence, films whose problematic N d/dr e t h cje Arts (enter presents the joy of watching great acting. As content many adults would find trou­ P bling. The Motion Picture Associa­ tion of America rating is R — re­ I stricted. VIRSKY UKRAINIAN I Mr. Forbes is director of the Office for NATIONAL DANCE I Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Con­ COMPANY I ic ference of Catholic Bishops. • We wish you and your family a very Friday, November 1Z • 8 p.m. Happy Thanksgiving Day Holiday Answers from page B17 (No. 45) ' Sen'ing 3-9 p.m. I Smoke-free, dining room Vivid color, lightning movement and superb form: these are the hallmarks of the p o P « F O S P _G| E S _ (off street parking available) • Virsky Ukrainian Dance Company. You'll delight in the carefully-researched folk dances ~A1 L A N E T s S 'L ly T H ' Delicious appetizers, soups, N that come to life on stage through the passion of the Virsky dancers. c 1 T o A T E A A T E 77»s event is sponsored by | veal dishes.vegetarian, * JEj V E R M R E L D D "Even m a crowded bullet seasorj, orie company remains a rnust far chicken, fish, and • 1o E E i M E Ft G E D HR E A M any danve lover, the Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company." AIJES1 homemade pasta s — The New York Times **' A L EJ A "si S I S T S O E 10% Sen or Discount •c H i «• Y R jn S T P A L m rcmiliir prkt'duliniuTN with this ;KI c A R A T A K E Tickets: $40. For tickets and more information, call (585) 389-2170 •" « S " Lunch: Tues.-Fri. 11-2 I 1 L A i" C o M • v « E D Dinners Daily from V 1 S 1 IT O R R 1 N I SJMaTBank This event is made possible, in part, with I L H A S M O A R S The Naiareth College public funds from the New Vork State 4:3G[ - 9:00 p.m. •H Arts Center Season WsR Council on the Arts, a state agency 4699 Lake Ave. c A R R O T ^G9 R 1 O R O N is sponsored by M&T Bank I (585) 865-4630 p R 1 O R H A U T O M 0 I A M M A N E P E S A U www.mi dominics.lom * 4245 East Avenue • Rochester, NY 14618 • www.naz.edu S E E O S R E D E T Gift Certificates AvailableI » N J OAWMO1. PMUCATXM O * 2003