Ian McEwan adapted his 2014 novel THE CHILDREN ACT for the screenplay for this deeply moving film, and while the themes and characterizations are well developed, the manner in which the film concludes is less than satisfying - could this possibly be director Richard Eyre's decision rather than McEwan's usual sensitivity?
British law is front and center. The brilliant high court judge Fiona Maye, also referred to as Mrs. Justice Maye and My Lady (a radiant Emma Thompson) is assigned cases that deal with children, as in whether or not it is a crime to surgically excise ('murder') one Siamese twin so that the other can survive. Fiona is a rather cold woman in a static marriage with Jack Maye (Stanley Tucci) who desires an extramarital affair and confronts the shocked Fiona with that news. Jack leaves and Fiona is called to adjudicate a case of a 17 year old lad Adam (Fionn Whitehead) facing death from leukemia: the medical need and the hospital's decision is a blood transfusion which his religion as a Jehovah's Witness forbids, a decision Adam's parents (Ben Chaplin and Eileen Walsh) demand. Unable to weigh the case without knowing the patient's wishes, Fiona breaks court and goes to the hospital to discuss the verdict choice with Adam, and thus begins a revelatory relationship for both Adam and Fiona. 'Life is more precious than dignity.' It is this simultaneous, though separated by distance, relationship in which both Adam and Fiona find themselves, and that relationship and the morality of religious beliefs form the core of the film. The presence of Jack as he fluctuates between his sexual needs and his love for Fiona seems intrusive and non-contributory to the otherwise very sensitive story, an ending that it is doubtful McEwan.
Emma Thompson is brilliant is this challenging role as is Fionn Whitehead (a very fine new actor!) as the young lad Adam. Jason Watkins as Fiona's clerk adds the much needed wit to the story, and the rest of the cast is uniformly excellent. The musical score includes Bach Partitas, underlining the sophistication of the themes. This is a very fine film, flawed slightly by an intrusive use of a saccharine closure.
British law is front and center. The brilliant high court judge Fiona Maye, also referred to as Mrs. Justice Maye and My Lady (a radiant Emma Thompson) is assigned cases that deal with children, as in whether or not it is a crime to surgically excise ('murder') one Siamese twin so that the other can survive. Fiona is a rather cold woman in a static marriage with Jack Maye (Stanley Tucci) who desires an extramarital affair and confronts the shocked Fiona with that news. Jack leaves and Fiona is called to adjudicate a case of a 17 year old lad Adam (Fionn Whitehead) facing death from leukemia: the medical need and the hospital's decision is a blood transfusion which his religion as a Jehovah's Witness forbids, a decision Adam's parents (Ben Chaplin and Eileen Walsh) demand. Unable to weigh the case without knowing the patient's wishes, Fiona breaks court and goes to the hospital to discuss the verdict choice with Adam, and thus begins a revelatory relationship for both Adam and Fiona. 'Life is more precious than dignity.' It is this simultaneous, though separated by distance, relationship in which both Adam and Fiona find themselves, and that relationship and the morality of religious beliefs form the core of the film. The presence of Jack as he fluctuates between his sexual needs and his love for Fiona seems intrusive and non-contributory to the otherwise very sensitive story, an ending that it is doubtful McEwan.
Emma Thompson is brilliant is this challenging role as is Fionn Whitehead (a very fine new actor!) as the young lad Adam. Jason Watkins as Fiona's clerk adds the much needed wit to the story, and the rest of the cast is uniformly excellent. The musical score includes Bach Partitas, underlining the sophistication of the themes. This is a very fine film, flawed slightly by an intrusive use of a saccharine closure.