The End We Start From

Environmental apocalypse survival story? Sign me up! I loved this movie. You don't often see mom's of newborns as the bravest people on the screen. Yet, true to life, don't mess with a mama bear! Whenever I watch something I look for clues if a woman wrote it or not. With this one I was 100% it was written by a woman and pleased to find out it was two! Also, a woman director, first feature, yay! I can tell the difference between how we write ourselves. I loved the chemistry between Comer & Waterston. I had never seen the latter actor before and this performance made we want to do a deep dive into her work. Both of them earned these parts for sure and did not rely on their beauty one bit in these performances. Strong women write strong women! Also there's super cute babies in it. That's the perfect baby age to me, 4-5 months. So cuddly! Highly recommend for everybody.

"The End We Start From", is carried more by quality performances, than a sterling script. On first inspection this looks like a apocalyptic, survivalist film but that soon gives way to what is, essentially, an interpersonal drama. Its not a terribly original proposition. It's script is not doing anything new or even overly clever. I will say, its at times, austere tones, can feel, a little emotionally burdensome. The key reason this film works, in spite of its shortcomings, is the outstanding performance, handed in, by Jodie Comer, as a mother looking to reunite her family. Comer shines as a desperate, isolated woman, with little more than a thin thread of hope, to sustain her. She's utterly convincing, drawing you in, perhaps a little in spite of any reservations, you might have, about the pedestrian back story. In summary, a film sustained, in large part, by an outstanding performance from its lead actress. Take a look and see if you agree with me.