Fiona Maye (Thompson) is an eminent High Court judge in London presiding with wisdom and compassion over ethically complex cases of family law. But she has paid a heavy personal price for her workload, and her marriage to American professor Jack (Tucci) is at breaking-point. In this moment of personal crisis, Fiona is asked to rule on the case of Adam (Whitehead), a brilliant boy who is refusing the blood transfusion which will save his life. Adam is three months from his 18th birthday and still legally a child. Should Fiona force him to live? Fiona visits Adam in hospital and their meeting has a profound emotional impact on them both, stirring strong new emotions in the boy and long?buried feelings in her.

Critic Reviews For The Children Act

• “[Thompson] is so good that she overwhelms the story's shortco­mings.” – Bill Goodykoontz

, Arizona Republic

• " Thompson and Whitehead shine, and director Richard Eyre has crafted a highly textured, respectable film about grown-up issues." – David Lewis ,San Francisco Chronicle
• " “The Children Act” feels utterly of a piece with the original book: urbane, understated, handsomely realized and impeccably interpreted by a cast of superb actors. " – Ann Hornaday ,Washington Post