January 31, 2005

NOMINATED FOR THREE ACADEMY AWARDS®, MIKE LEIGH’S DRAMA VERA DRAKE DEBUTS ON DVD MARCH 29 FROM NEW LINE HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Star Imelda Staunton and Writer-Director Mike Leigh Receive 2005 Academy Award® Nominations

“This is one of the best movies of the year.”
-Roger Ebert, EBERT & ROEPER

“A powerfully moving film that is unmissable and unforgettable”
-Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

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LOS ANGELES, CA  (January 31, 2005) – 2005 Best Actress Academy Award®-nominee Imelda Staunton (Shakespeare in Love, Sense and Sensibility) stars in Mike Leigh’s (Secrets & Lies, Topsy-Turvy) riveting masterpiece Vera Drake, arriving on DVD March 29 from New Line Home Entertainment. Set in 1950s England, Vera Drake tackles the controversial subject of abortion with compassion and heart-wrenching sincerity and earned 2005 Best Director and Best Original Screenplay Academy Award® nominations for Leigh. The DVD will be marked at a $27.95 SRP.

In typical Mike Leigh fashion, Vera Drake’s story, characters and script were built from an intricate improvisation process, resulting in a film that burns with depth, realism and seemingly effortless performances from an outstanding ensemble cast. Staunton’s towering portrayal of the titular character earned a Golden Globe® nomination for Best Actress, and she won the British Independent Film Award, Venice Film Festival Award and the Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle and Toronto Film Critics Awards for Best Actress.

The outstanding supporting cast includes Phil Davis (High Hopes, Secrets & Lies), Peter Wight (Secrets & Lies), Adrian Scarborough (Dirty Pretty Things, Gosford Park) and Heather Craney (Topsy-Turvy).

SYNOPSIS

Imelda Staunton is Vera Drake, beloved wife and mother who is completely devoted to, and loved by, her working class family. Vera spends her days cleaning houses for money and caring for her sick neighbor and elderly mother. But Vera also performs another duty that her family doesn't know about – she secretly visits women and helps them induce miscarriages for unwanted pregnancies. While the practice itself was illegal in 1950s England, Vera sees herself as simply helping women in need and always does so with a smile and kind words of encouragement. When tragedy befalls a young client of Vera's, the truth comes out, and Vera’s world and family life rapidly unravel.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

ABOUT NEW LINE HOME ENTERTAINMENT

New Line Home Entertainment distributes New Line Cinema and Fine Line Features theatrical films on DVD and VHS, including the premium DVD brand infinifilm™.

The Company also distributes feature films and non-theatrical programs acquired orproduced by New Line Home Entertainment and New Line Television. Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is the leading independent producer and distributor of theatrical films. It licenses its programming to ancillary markets, including cable and broadcast television, as well as in all international markets. New Line Cinema is a Time Warner Company.

For more information about Vera Drake, visit www.veradrake.com. To download the Vera Drake press release and artwork, visit New Line Home Entertainment’s website at www.moviepublicity.com. For screeners or artwork, please email your request to carolsamrock@cs-pr.com, or fax your request to (818) 260-0707.

Street Date:  March 29, 2005
Pricing: $27.95 SRP on DVD
Feature Running Time: 125 minutes
MPAA Rating:  Rated R for depiction of strong thematic material

Contacts:

Carol Samrock
Carl Samrock Public Relations
(818) 260-0777

Jennifer Sandler
New Line Home Entertainment
(310) 967-6992