Fiona Maye is a judge specialising in "moral dilemma" cases of the type which have featured in the press recently. She is required to make a decision on a young Jehovah's Witness, 3 months before he becomes an adult, whose parents don't want him to have a life-saving blood transfusion. The Children Act of the title, leaves her no alternative but to authorise the transfusion even after having met the lad and discovered that she shares his parents views. After he recovers, he becomes mildly obsessed by her.
This adaptation of Ian MacEwan's novel stars Emma Thompson as the judge who is dealing with marital problems at the same time as being confounded by an intelligent but confused young man. What follows is improbable but believable, helped enormously by a script which never forgets that you don't get to be a judge without being able to focus a razor-sharp mind on the issue at hand.
I can't say it's a likeable film, though. It is - understandably - glum in tone throughout, and none of the main characters is particularly sympathetic. But it is always interesting, and always well acted.
This adaptation of Ian MacEwan's novel stars Emma Thompson as the judge who is dealing with marital problems at the same time as being confounded by an intelligent but confused young man. What follows is improbable but believable, helped enormously by a script which never forgets that you don't get to be a judge without being able to focus a razor-sharp mind on the issue at hand.
I can't say it's a likeable film, though. It is - understandably - glum in tone throughout, and none of the main characters is particularly sympathetic. But it is always interesting, and always well acted.