The Children Act

Director: Richard Eyre
Producers: Duncan Kenworthy
Writer: Ian McEwan
Cast: Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci, Fionn Whitehead

Fiona, a British High Court judge, is intensely dedicated to her profession, never finding time to have her own children while fully assuming the immense responsibility of making life-and-death decisions about the children of others. As Fiona is about to embark on one of the most challenging cases of her career, Jack (Stanley Tucci), her neglected and increasingly frustrated husband, makes a shocking revelation sending her into an emotional tailspin.

The case in question concerns 17-year-old Adam (Dunkirk’s Fionn Whitehead), a Jehovah’s Witness suffering from leukemia, whose life could be saved by a simple blood transfusion, but who is refusing on religious grounds. Though just months shy of his 18th birthday, when he could legally choose for himself, Adam’s fate instead rests with Fiona, who, uncertain in her decision, makes the unusual move of leaving her courtroom to visit Adam’s hospital bedside. Their encounter forges a profound and unexpected connection, leading them both to challenge their beliefs, evaluate their choices and grapple with the ultimate question of what constitutes right and wrong.

2018, R, UK, USA, Drama, English, 105 minutes