Review of The Children Act

'The Children Act (2018)' is much more about its central character than you'd perhaps think, with the apparent 'plot' - or, rather, most obvious conflict - finishing around the midway point. This doesn't so much detriment the movie as it does turn it into something altogether more methodical, a slow character-piece that uses its 'log-line' narrative to comment and reflect on the protagonist's two-handed mental state, while also giving us an insight into a profession not often portrayed on screen. The result is an interesting if strangely paced experience that often resonates, is usually entertaining and is sometimes quite upsetting, especially with its descriptions of its focal illness, but only to the extent that you understand the dilemma that its lead is in. It's a dilemma that feels a lot more legitimate than you'd perhaps expect, as it's rendered with a realism and an empathetic impartiality that allows you to understand both sides and maybe even walk away with a better understanding of the wider debate (one which seems to grace our real-life papers more often than you'd expect). The piece promotes empathy on the whole, ironically asking us not to judge and to allow all parties to express their sides, and this makes it feel wonderfully inclusive. It dabbles in pretty deep character work, too, which is bolstered by universally good performances. It's not thunderously enjoyable but it's never boring and, though it can sometimes feel a little bit 'TV-movie' (in the modern sense of 'TV'), there are intriguing things going on in terms of its narrative and themes. 6/10