Self-Doubt and Righteousness in The Children Act

The last screening of the night on Saturday took place at the Music Hall Loft featuring The Children Act. Set in London, the drama revolves around Fiona Maye (Emma Thompson), a British High Court Judge, whose successful career stands is stark contrast to her disintegrating marriage with her husband Jack (Stanley Tucci).

Fiona Maye is handed a tough case involving a teenage boy, Adam (Fionn Whitehead), in need of a blood transfusion. Because he and his parents are devout Jehovah’s Witnesses, Adam is refusing the care necessary to save him. Just months away from his eighteenth birthday, Adam is still under the care of the state, and can have his choices overridden.

Adam soon becomes infatuated with Fiona Maye. As both he and Jack vie for her attention -Jack hoping to rekindle their relationship, Adam hoping to start one- Fiona Maye becomes increasingly withdrawn, agitated, and engrossed in her work. Through her reluctance to open up and bare her thoughts, she struggles to make important decisions, which ultimately costs her more than she bargained for.

The Children Act asks us to question our own moral sensibilities. It is a beautifully done immersion into self-doubt and strong-held beliefs. It is directed by Richard Eyre, produced by Duncan Kenworthy, written by Ian McEwan, and stars Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci, and Fionn Whitehead.

By Steph George