‘The Children Act’ review: Emma Thompson gives one of the best performances of her career in this riveting courtroom drama
In a beautiful and heart-wrenching performance by Emma Thompson, ‘The Children Act’ follows High Court judge Fiona Maye (played by Thompson), who in the midst of a marital crisis must rule on a legal case concerning the survival of a teenage boy. Also starring Stanley Tucci and Fionn Whitehead ('Dunkirk'), ‘The Children Act’ was adapted from the acclaimed novel by Ian McEwan (Atonement) and directed by Sir Richard Eyre ('Notes on a Scandal', 'Iris').
A woman who has devoted her life to her job, Fiona is still astounded when her husband tells her he’s unhappy and would like to have an affair. Pushing the problem aside, she’s then thrown into one of the most challenging and devastating cases of her career that completely turns her life upside-down. Adam Henry, a 17-year-old Jehovah’s Witness, is dying of Leukemia and both him and his parents are refusing the treatment he needs to save his life due to their religious beliefs.