TODOROV
This film follows Todorov’s theory as the film can be split into 5 stages.
1. The EQUILIBRIUM is present at the beginning of the film. Our protagonist is shown in a stable setting surrounded by her family. Her kind nature is clearly exhibited as she shows great devotion to her family and even looks after her elderly mother. As well as this, our protagonist is shown looking after her sick neighbour.
2. The DISTRUPTION in this equilibrium occurs when we find out that our protagonist takes part in illegal activities and is close to losing one of her patient’s lives as an abortion goes wrong.
​
3. This disruption is RECOGNISED when Vera is arrested by the police due to her risky abortion. Her family find out about what she has been doing and her son expresses how he thinks he will never be able to forgive his mother.
​
4. The disruption is attempted to be RESOLVED as Vera appears in court. This shows how the characters are dealing with what she has been doing and are trying to provide justice to those harmed by her practices. She is sent to jail which acts as a disincentive for other who may be doing the same thing.
​
5. A NEW EQUILIBRIUM is formed when Vera’s son expresses that he still loves his mother and she is taken to jail. In jail, she meets other people who have also been convicted for carrying out illegal abortions. An equilibrium is formed when she accepts what she has done and begins a new life in prison.
PROPP
A few of Propps' character types can be identified in this film:
​
HERO: VERA is the hero of this film. She is the protagonist and has kind intentions as she wished to help the people around her selflessly.
VILLAIN: THE LAW/POLICE have put down laws to prevent girls from getting abortions. This is the root of the cause which is making Vera take action against them.
DONOR: THE PSYCHIATRIST helps Susan by giving her tips on how to get permission for an abortion. By donating this information
HELPER: LILY helps Vera by finding girls who needs help and putting them in contact with Vera. This means she acts as Vera’s accomplice and aid in her quest to help girls.
PRINCESS: SUSAN is in need of help and becomes a damsel in distress when she is raped and needs someone to help her.
FATHER: NO ONE TO REWARD IN REALISM films as in reality there wouldn’t be a figure that would provide sanctuary or rewards for these gritty and controversial topics.
THE FALSE HERO: LILY helps Vera however she is deceitful as she secretly charges the patients for the abortions without Vera's knowledge.
VERA DRAKE
​
Plot
Vera Drake (2004) is a gritty film about the graphic and controversial occupation of a kind lady who was in the working class from London in 1950. She works as house cleaner, but unknown to her family and friends, she performs illegal abortions (free of charge) to the young women of London, as she believes that it is an act of kindness and charity to women in a bad position. Inevitably, one abortion she carries out nearly causes her patient to die, leading to her arrest. She is taken into custody and questioned about her illegal activities. In her court case, she is sentenced to 2 and a half years of imprisonment.
​
Sub plot
A sub-plot also runs through the film. We find ourselves following an upper-class young woman who is raped by a potential suitor causing her to become pregnant. Desperate to get rid of the child, she tries to get a hold of a doctor who can perform an abortion for her. She is told by a psychiatrist to answer questions in a certain way so that the doctor can legally perform an abortion for her, on the grounds that she has a mental illness and will commit suicide if denied an abortion. This shows the difficulty of getting an abortion at the time and the lengths that young women had to go to in order to terminate their pregnancies.