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The End We Start From

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The End We Start From
Film poster
Directed byMahalia Belo
Written byAlice Birch
Based onThe End We Start From by Megan Hunter
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySuzie Lavelle
Edited byArttu Salmi
Music byAnna Meredith
Production
companies
  • Anton
  • C2 Motion Picture Group
  • BBC Film
  • BFI
  • SunnyMarch
  • Hera Pictures
Distributed bySignature Entertainment
Release dates
  • 10 September 2023 (2023-09-10) (TIFF)
  • 19 January 2024 (2024-01-19)
Running time
101 minutes[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£9 million[2]

The End We Start From is a 2023 British survival film directed by Mahalia Belo and starring Jodie Comer, with Benedict Cumberbatch, Katherine Waterston and Mark Strong. It is adapted by Alice Birch from the novel of the same name by Megan Hunter.

The End We Start From premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 10 September 2023.[3][4] It was released in the United States on 8 December 2023, followed by release in the United Kingdom on 19 January 2024. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was nominated in several categories at the 2023 British Independent Film Awards.

Plot

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Protracted storms and heavy rain cause London to be flooded just as the Woman goes into labour, giving birth to her newborn baby son Zeb. With incessant rain the flooding spreads to other low-lying areas of Britain, triggering a country-wide crisis with food supplies and accommodations for people displaced by the ecological disaster. The woman and her husband R are forced to flee with their baby to R's parents. After R's mother G is trampled to death at a food distribution facility, R's father N dies by suicide, leaving R badly traumatised.

Woman and R decide to go to a local shelter, but R gets separated from Woman and their son. When the shelter comes under attack by the looters, Woman and Zeb flee northwards to go to a commune on a remote island off the coast of Scotland, but Woman finds the desire of the commune's residents to be shielded from the rest of the world too stifling and difficult to accept. They return to their ruined house in London, where soon afterwards they are reunited with R.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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Benedict Cumberbatch's company SunnyMarch with Hera Pictures acquired the rights in May 2017 to Megan Hunter's debut novel The End We Start From before the book had been published. Cumberbatch was quoted as saying it was "a stunning tale of motherhood [and] a striking and frighteningly real story of a family fighting for survival that will make everyone stop and think about what kind of planet we are leaving behind for our children". Cumberbatch was announced as a producer alongside Hera Pictures founder Liza Marshall, Adam Ackland, and Sophie Hunter.[5]

In May 2022, it was announced that Mahalia Belo would direct an Alice Birch screenplay adaptation of the novel with Jodie Comer attached to appear as the central mother character. Production was listed as being completed by SunnyMarch through Leah Clarke and Ackland and Hera Pictures' Marshall alongside Amy Jackson and Hunter. With BBC Film and Anton adding finance, executive producers were Comer, Cumberbatch, Eva Yates, Cecile Gaget and Sébastien Raybaud.[6] A budget of £9 million has been reported for the project.[2] Also confirmed as working on the project were Suzie Lavelle as cinematographer, PC Williams as costume designer, production designer Laura Ellis-Cricks and hair and make-up designer Louise Coles.[7] Director Belo described the film as a "unique and original take on a survival film. One that feels in tune with the climate crisis we are experiencing now."[8]

Casting

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In August 2022, it was revealed that Katherine Waterston had been added to the cast.[9] In September 2022, it was confirmed that Cumberbatch and Mark Strong, Joel Fry, Gina McKee, and Nina Sosanya had been added to the cast and that principal photography had begun in London. Strong had been added as an executive producer along with Kate Maxwell, Fanny Soulier and Pieter Engels from Anton, and Claudia Yusef for BBC Film. C2 Motion Picture Group had been brought in for funding with Dave Caplan and Jason Cloth in as executive producers, with National Lottery funding coming via the BFI with Lizzie Francke acting as an executive producer.[10]

Filming

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As well as in London,[11][12] principal photography was reported to have taken place at disused boarding school Carmel College in southern Oxfordshire.[13]

Music

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The score is by Anna Meredith.[14]

Release

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In May 2023, Signature Entertainment and Republic Pictures acquired U.K. and U.S. distribution rights, respectively.[15][16]

It was released in the United States on 8 December 2023, and in the United Kingdom on 19 January 2024.[17][18]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 80 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Led by Jodie Comer's gripping performance in the central role, The End We Start From offers a thoughtful, haunting look at the end of the world."[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 65 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[20]

Accolades

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The End We Start From received nine nominations for the 2023 British Independent Film Awards, including Best Lead Performance for Jodie Comer, and Best Supporting Performance for Katherine Waterston, as well as Best Cinematography for Suzie Lavelle and Best Costume Design for PC Williams.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "The End We Start (15)". BBFC. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b Ross, Steven (8 September 2022). "The End We Start From: what is Jodie Comer survival thriller film with Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Strong?". National World. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  3. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro, "TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders ‘Dumb Money’, ‘The Holdovers’, ‘Rustin’; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More" Archived 24 July 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Deadline Hollywood, 24 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Jodie Comer, Paul Mescal Score Nods as 'Rye Lane,' 'Scrapper, 'All of Us Strangers' Lead British Independent Film Awards Nominations". variety. 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Benedict Cumberbatch's Company to Adapt Novel 'The End We Start From' Into Movie". Variety. 18 May 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  6. ^ "BAFTA Winner Jodie Comer To Star In Apocalyptic Thriller 'The End We Start From' With Benedict Cumberbatch's SunnyMarch & Hera Among Producers, Anton & UTA Launch Sales — Cannes Market Hot Project". Deadline. 9 May 2022. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Principal photography begins on Mahalia Belo's The End We Start From". cineuropa.org. 15 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Benedict Cumberbatch, Mark Strong Join Jodie Comer on 'The End We Start From' Cast". Variety. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  9. ^ "Katherine Waterston To Star Opposite Jodie Comer In Apocalyptic Thriller 'The End We Start From'". Deadline. 25 August 2022. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Benedict Cumberbatch & Mark Strong Join Cast Of Jodie Comer Thriller 'The End We Start From'; First-Look Image Revealed". Deadline. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Now Filming in London: September 2022". Filmlondon.org. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  12. ^ "The End We Start From". Productionlist.com. 4 July 2022. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Filming crews spotted in Crowmarsh Gifford near Wallingford". Oxford Mail. 13 September 2022. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  14. ^ "ANNA MEREDITH composes minimalist brilliance for THE END WE START FROM soundtrack". 19 January 2024.
  15. ^ Ritman, Alex (18 May 2023). "Cannes: Signature Picks Up Jodie Comer's 'The End We Start From' for UK (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  16. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (20 May 2023). "Jodie Comer's Apocalyptic Thriller 'The End We Start From' Sells To Paramount's Republic Pictures In Mid Seven-Figure North America Deal — Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  17. ^ "'The End We Start From': Watch First Teaser For Jodie Comer & Benedict Cumberbatch Movie Ahead Of Toronto World Premiere; Release Date Revealed". Deadline. 9 September 2023. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  18. ^ Travis, Ben (11 October 2023). "Jodie Comer Flees A Flooding London In The End We Start From – Exclusive Images". Empire. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  19. ^ "The End We Start From". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 18 October 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  20. ^ "The End We Start From". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  21. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (2 November 2023). "Jodie Comer, Paul Mescal Score Nods as 'Rye Lane,' 'Scrapper, 'All of Us Strangers' Lead British Independent Film Awards Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
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