The Children Act

The Children Act

British drama in which a high court judge must make a life-or-death decision on behalf of a child while struggling with her own problems in her personal life. Putting her marriage and own self-interests on the back burner, Fiona Maye (Emma Thompson) puts her time and energy into a high-profile case which sees a 17-year-old Jehovah's Witness refuse a life-saving blood transfusion due to his religious principles. With the boy's condition worsening by the day, it is up to Fiona to ultimately decide whether to overrule the parents' and child's decision and enforce the blood transfusion or to grant the family their wish and dismiss it.

When Fiona liaises with the boy herself to gain a greater understanding of his needs feelings of regret rise to the surface as she reflects on her failing marriage and her husband, Jack (Stanley Tucci), begs her to fight for their relationship. When the time comes for Fiona to lay down the law, which path will she choose and can she mend her broken bond with her husband?