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The Childrens Act

16 replies

lucydogz · 28/08/2018 21:15

has anyone else seen this?
I thought it was well filmed, but knew it wasn't interesting me when I was more interested in her lovely flat.
Too much Emma Thompson looking anguished for my taste as well (even though I really like her)
If anyone does see it, there's a couple of things in the plot that really puzzle me as well.

OP posts:
gabsdot · 28/08/2018 21:30

I just finished reading the book and I don't think I'll bother with the film unless it's on TV sometime.
I can imagine Emma Thompson being perfect in the role of Fiona. The story is interesting but not super exciting.

gabsdot · 28/08/2018 21:31

What parts of the plot puzzled you?

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lucydogz · 28/08/2018 21:37

why did Adam refuse treatment the second time, if he'd lost his faith?
why didn't Fiona just tell him directly that she couldn't see him because it would ruin her career?
why did she make the initial visit to Adam?
what did she believe in?
and (more frivelously) why did Stanley Tucci agree to appear in a film where he is a pure cipher?

OP posts:
gabsdot · 29/08/2018 20:40

I think Adam refused the second treatment because he wanted to die. That was what Fiona told her husband in the book anyway.

She made the initial visit to Adam to help her make her judgement.
Not sure about the rest.

Dowser · 02/09/2018 13:32

I felt Adam rejected the second treatment because he’d been rejected by his parents...they didn’t fight for him...their only son
He would’ve been rejected by his religion...so he had to reject it
He was rejected by the judge who he’d put all his attachment on...she’d come in , in a motherly role
She didn’t have too. He was minor. She could’ve just rubber stamped it.
He saw her as a surrogate mum.
He wanted to live with them
She rejected him
So, I think in an act of anger at her, parents, religion and society he rejected the treatment.

I found him very creepy

IndigoApple · 02/09/2018 21:41

I saw this today and didn't like it. I don't know the answers to your questions lucy but don't really care!

Found all the singing quite cringey!

Stanley Tucci was the best thing about it!

I prefer Emma in Love Actually.

rookiemere · 02/09/2018 21:45

I found it better than the book ,thought Emma Thompson was rather marvellous , although I do wonder in these films how a workaholic woman clearly goes to a gym, has an excellent haircut and good makeup.
In the book I think the separation was much more advanced- but I may have remembered wrong.

IndigoApple · 02/09/2018 21:59

I haven't read the book but have liked some of IM's other novels.

Did anyone see the film adaptation of Chesil Beach? I wanted to but it didn't stay in the cinema long enough.

FrustratedTeddyLamp · 03/09/2018 06:08

I liked it, i was hoping for a more emotional rollercoaster, the only big i felt a bit sad about was when he got ill again and she was performing and rushed there. I think it would have been better as a series

StuckInTheMiddleWithJude · 03/09/2018 06:26

I saw this film last week, thought the acting was really good but found some moments in the film a bit 'why did that happen!?' The kiss for example. At the end OH and I were a bit 🤷‍♀️. If I'd have gone out to use the loo I'd have thought I'd missed something.

Anyhow, I found this really interesting www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/08/26/family-court-judge-inspired-new-bbc-film-children-act-speaks/amp/ it's about the case which inspired the book/film.

onlyconnect · 03/09/2018 20:49

I saw it and loved it. I particularly liked the way that everything was complex and ambiguous, including Adam's behaviour and the reason for the judge visiting Adam in hospital the first time.

CormoranStrike · 05/09/2018 06:16

I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Dancergirl · 09/09/2018 11:02

Think we might see this today. Me, dh and 15 year old dd want to see it but not sure about 11 year old dd. Do you think it's ok for an 11 year old?

Babymamamama · 09/09/2018 11:28

I don't think it's particularly suited to an 11 year old.
I pondered on... Did she have feelings for "the boy". When he tried to kiss her it seemed she reciprocated/ didn't pull away very quickly. I thought it was going to go down the same path as Notes On a Scandal (brilliant film by the same director) but then it didn't.

It wasn't really explained why she was so disconnected from her husband. Was there trauma linked to not having a baby? She seemed to look wistfully at babies but didn't clearly explain why she hadn't had one. Did she think of the boy as son she never had.
I found the film interesting. And loved Stanley Tucci as the lovely husband. She was lucky to have him.

rookiemere · 09/09/2018 18:26

I wouldn't take an 11 year old. He'd be bored rigid.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 13/09/2018 00:12

I thought the young man playing Adam was superb. I see a great acting career ahead for him

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