A “heartbreaking” British drama with The Crown‘s Jason Watkins is airing on TV tonight.
The Children Act is a 2017 film that also stars Years and Years‘ Emma Thompson, The Hunger Games‘ Stanley Tucci, Dunkirk‘s Fionn Whitehead, and Apple Tree Yard‘s Ben Chaplin.
Based on the Ian McEwan novel of the same name, the film follows Fiona, a High Court judge involved in the case of a 17-year-old boy suffering with leukaemia.
Doctors want him to get a blood transfusion, but his strictly religious parents are forbidding it. Fiona is also struggling with issues at home, as her marriage is falling apart.
The film will be airing at 11pm on BBC Two tonight and will be available to stream on iPlayer afterwards.
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There are plenty of positive reviews of the film, with many praising Thompson’s performance.
Here’s what some of the reviews said:
“A heartbreaking lament for loves lost and lives unrealised, a restrained, nuanced movie about nuance and restraint.”
“Elevated by Thompson’s mesmeric presence and beautifully well-executed performance, making it one of her finest roles to date.”
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“In a career that’s spanned every genre, across roles that are silly and serious, The Children Act has to be one of her best — you could watch this quietly dignified performance for days. So that’s saying something. No one quite breaks your heart like Thompson can.”
“Sophisticated and challenging, The Children Act continues this trend for filmgoers who would like to flex their intellectual muscles and engage with serious themes.”
Meanwhile, Jason Watkins recently appeared in detective drama The Game, which wrapped up on Channel 5 last month.
The Children Act airs on BBC Two at 11pm tonight.
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