London, UK – In a post-apocalyptic world, a young woman faces the daunting challenge of raising her newborn baby amidst the collapse of society. This gripping tale explores the breakdown of law and order and the normalization of disaster and loss. Unlike other films of its genre, this narrative doesn’t lead to chaotic abysses of unknowable chaos. Instead, it envisions a society’s downward evolutionary leap, leaving room for the possibility of rebirth.
The film, directed by Mahalia Belo and written by Alice Birch, draws inspiration from the 70s BBC TV classic Survivors. Its depiction of the devastating effects of climate change on low-lying British cities, vulnerable to rising rivers and commercial waterways, is particularly timely. The film confronts the abstract perceptions of climate disaster, showing that it means fire and flood.
Jodie Comer delivers a remarkable performance as the pregnant protagonist in London, portraying a smart and tough woman with a supportive partner played by Joel Fry. The film opens with dark irony as her baby arrives amidst escalating heavy rain. Despite giving birth in a crisis-stricken hospital and traversing riotous streets, she remains surprisingly calm. The radical upheaval of becoming a mother for the first time overshadows the chaos around her.
Joined by Fry’s character, whose easygoing charm brings lightheartedness to their situation, the couple names their baby “Z,” symbolizing their feeling of having reached the end of their conceptual tether. They seek refuge with Fry’s parents, portrayed by Mark Strong and Nina Sosanya, who live in the countryside and have a stockpile of food. However, when supplies run low, they are forced to embark on dangerous journeys into lawless territories in search of government shelter-support stations. Comer’s character faces a solitary battle for survival with her baby.
The End We Start From combines elements of a road movie and a quest, enhanced by stellar supporting performances from Katherine Waterston, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Gina McKee. These actors elevate the film’s intelligence quotient, contributing to its somber atmosphere. Although the later flashbacks depicting the protagonist’s early romance with Fry’s character may be questioned, Comer’s portrayal of vulnerability, idealism, determination, and ruthlessness is authentic. She carries the weight of the story with unwavering strength and style.
The film will hit UK cinemas on January 19th, with an Australia release yet to be confirmed.