The Children Act Movie Review (2017)

Contemplative and understated, The Children Act, about a judge who decides medically dubious cases for minors, slowly blossoms into something unexpected.

Movies based on books can be hit or miss. You have so much source material and richness in print that, when you try to translate it into another medium, it can be challenging to contain it all. For example, The Princess Bride and Pride & Prejudice are both phenomenal, while 1984 and The Summer Book were more questionable for me.

The Children Act centers on Fiona Maye, an English judge who handles delicate cases involving medical decisions for minors. Struggling with distance in her marriage, Fiona Maye occupies all of her time with work. When she is presented with a case where 17-year-old Adam Henry, a Jehovah’s Witness, is refusing a blood transfusion (with the help of his parents) to help treat his leukemia, she must contend with the law and what she thinks is right. But first, she chooses to meet him in person.

I really enjoyed this film. The first act is somewhat dry, focusing on the court processes, learning about Fiona Maye’s marital issues, and observing the ins and outs of daily life. But when Fiona Maye meets Adam Henry, the film opens up. There is a lovely tonal shift that feels warmer, more unpredictable, and fully captured my attention.

Emma Thompson is wonderful as Fiona Maye. As such a proficient actress, we’ve all seen her play dozens of characters on screen, but there are moments of subtlety, confusion, and depth that are new here.

Stanley Tucci also does a lovely job as Fiona’s husband, but it is Fionn Whitehead as Adam Henry who is the standout for me. From beginning to end, the passion he brings to the part is palpable. A young man dedicated to his religion, holding steadfastly to his position with a deep understanding of why he is making the choice he is, Mr. Whitehead brings different levels to Adam. He is curious about life and excited that Fiona Maye would meet him. He is almost intuitive in his reactions, and, as much as Adam is in this medical predicament, he is also kind of the lifeblood of this film.

Based on a book of the same name, the movie does a very good job of laying out the issues with the Henry family agreeing to a blood transfusion. The parents, who are devout Jehovah’s Witnesses, have raised their son in the same faith. His blood is sacred in their belief system, and anyone attempting to pollute it is doing him a disservice. Everyone loves Adam, from his parents to the medical staff, and it raises a real predicament for what the rest of his life would look like, if he has one.

This is one of those films that’s difficult to review without discussing the entire story, so I encourage you to watch it. I went in blind, knowing absolutely nothing before hitting the play button, and I really appreciated what I watched. I’ll be thinking about The Children Act for a while, that’s for sure.

Runtime: 105 minutes

Motion Picture Rating: R

Languages Spoken In The Film: English

Should You Watch It? Yes

Did I Cry? Nope

My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Available: Free on Netflix, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms