The End We Start From—a title that evokes both profound loss and the inherent human drive for continuation—continues to resonate deeply in 2025, particularly after its impactful film adaptation. This compelling narrative, originally a critically acclaimed novella by Megan Hunter, explores the harrowing yet hopeful journey of a new mother amidst an environmental crisis that reshapes the world around her. As conversations about climate change, resilience, and the core essence of family intensify, this story remains strikingly relevant, prompting audiences to reflect on what truly matters when everything familiar is stripped away. The film, released in late 2023 in some regions and early 2024 elsewhere, including the UK, has cemented its place as a significant piece of contemporary cinema, sparking discussions across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook, Instagram) about its themes and performances.
The Genesis: From Page to Screen
Megan Hunter’s novella, “The End We Start From,” published in 2017, quickly garnered praise for its spare, poetic prose and unique exploration of motherhood against a dystopian backdrop. The book, a finalist for the Barnes and Noble Discover Prize and longlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize, offered a distinctive take on apocalyptic fiction, focusing on the intimate, internal experience of a woman giving birth and nurturing her child as London submerges under floodwaters. Hunter’s narrative style, characterized by short, poignant paragraphs, allowed for a deeply personal and often unsettling portrayal of survival.
The adaptation of such a lyrical and minimalist work into a feature film was a considerable undertaking. Mahalia Belo directed the film, with the screenplay expertly crafted by Alice Birch, known for her work on “Normal People” and “Dead Ringers.” The challenge was to translate the book’s internal monologue and fragmented structure into a visually compelling and emotionally resonant cinematic experience. The film, starring Jodie Comer as the unnamed protagonist (credited simply as ‘Woman’), Joel Fry as her partner ‘R’, and featuring powerful supporting performances from Katherine Waterston, Mark Strong, Nina Sosanya, Gina McKee, and Benedict Cumberbatch (who also served as a producer), successfully captured the essence of Hunter’s vision. Filmed in 2022 and released to wide acclaim in 2023-2024, the movie brought this intimate disaster story to a broader audience, emphasizing the visual grandeur and the stark reality of a world reshaped by ecological catastrophe.
The Plot: A Mother’s Odyssey Through Chaos
“The End We Start From” plunges viewers into a world grappling with unprecedented flooding. The story begins with the protagonist giving birth to her son, Zeb, as floodwaters engulf London, forcing her and her partner, R, to flee their home. This immediate juxtaposition of new life with widespread devastation sets the tone for their arduous journey.
Their initial refuge is R’s parents’ countryside home, but this haven proves temporary as resources dwindle and societal tensions rise. Tragedy strikes, leading to the heartbreaking separation of the new family. The Woman, with her newborn, embarks on a perilous journey across a changed UK landscape, moving through temporary shelters and survival camps. Along the way, she encounters other displaced individuals, forming fleeting but significant connections. One such connection is with O (Katherine Waterston), another young mother, who becomes her travel companion.
The narrative shifts between the immediate, overwhelming demands of new motherhood—feeding, comforting, protecting her child—and the harsh realities of a crumbling world. Food scarcity, unreliable infrastructure, and the constant threat of danger define their existence. A brief encounter with a charismatic survivalist (Benedict Cumberbatch) offers a glimpse into different approaches to resilience. Eventually, the Woman and O find themselves in a commune on a peaceful island, led by the pragmatic F (Gina McKee), who encourages forgetting the past to build a new future.
However, the protagonist’s longing for her original home and the lingering hope of reuniting with R drive her to make a difficult decision. She leaves the relative safety of the commune, braving the still-flooded remnants of London. The film culminates in a powerful moment of reunion, back in their damaged but standing home, symbolizing rebirth and the enduring power of family. It’s a cyclical journey, where the end of their old world marks the beginning of their new one, built on resilience and love.
Themes: Beyond the Apocalypse
“The End We Start From” is not simply a disaster film; it’s a poignant exploration of universal themes, intensified by the apocalyptic setting. At its core, the film delves into:
Motherhood and Instinctive Survival
The narrative places the raw, visceral experience of new motherhood at its center. The protagonist’s journey is profoundly shaped by her instinct to protect her child, a primal drive that overrides fear and despair. The film vividly portrays the physical and emotional demands of caring for an infant in extreme circumstances, highlighting the strength and adaptability inherent in maternal bonds. It shows how the seemingly mundane acts of changing nappies or finding food become heroic endeavors in a world turned upside down.
Climate Change and Displacement
The environmental crisis serves as a stark, undeniable backdrop. The film offers an unnervingly realistic vision of a UK ravaged by flooding, prompting viewers to confront the escalating climate crisis and its potential consequences. It underscores the fragility of our planet and the societal structures we often take for granted. The characters become climate refugees, a reality increasingly faced by millions globally in 2025, drawing parallels to real-world issues of displacement and the search for sanctuary. The film subtly weaves in these contemporary concerns without resorting to overt political statements, trusting the audience to make the connections.
Resilience and Hope
Despite the overwhelming despair, the film is ultimately a story of hope and human resilience. The protagonist’s determination to survive, to find her way back, and to create a semblance of normalcy for her child, speaks to the enduring human spirit. It highlights the small acts of kindness, the unexpected connections, and the internal fortitude that can carry individuals through unimaginable hardship. The ending, while not a complete return to the old world, signifies a new beginning, a testament to the ability to rebuild and find meaning amidst loss.
Loss and Memory
The narrative also grapples with the profound sense of loss – of homes, loved ones, and the familiar world. The protagonist carries the weight of her memories and the desire to reconnect with her past, particularly her husband. The film suggests that while adapting to a new reality is crucial, fully forgetting the past is not always possible or even desirable. Memories, both painful and cherished, fuel the journey forward.
Critical Reception and Audience Impact
Since its widespread release in late 2023 and early 2024, “The End We Start From” has garnered significant critical attention. Reviewers often praised Jodie Comer’s powerful and understated performance, which anchors the film’s emotional weight. Critics noted the film’s distinct approach to the dystopian genre, prioritizing intimate character study over grand-scale action or CGI spectacle. Its contemplative and often slow-paced narrative was seen by some as a refreshing, more realistic take on societal collapse, while others found it at times too abstract or lacking in broader context.
On platforms like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds respectable scores, reflecting a generally positive reception. Audiences on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) engaged in discussions about the film’s climate change message, the portrayal of motherhood, and the emotional impact of its ending. Many shared their personal reflections on how the film resonated with anxieties about the future and the importance of family bonds. The film’s focus on the individual experience within a global crisis made it particularly relatable for many viewers.
The Broader Context: Dystopian Narratives in 2025
“The End We Start From” fits into a larger trend of contemporary dystopian and speculative fiction that often reflects current societal anxieties. In 2025, with increasing awareness of climate change, global instability, and the challenges of interconnectedness, narratives that explore breakdown and rebuilding continue to hold significant appeal. Unlike older apocalyptic tales that often focused on grand heroic battles or zombie hordes, modern dystopian stories like “The End We Start From” tend to be more intimate, psychological, and grounded in plausible environmental or social collapse. They often explore how individuals and small communities navigate profound change, focusing on the human spirit’s capacity for adaptation and resilience rather than just widespread destruction. This shift resonates with audiences who are looking for stories that offer more nuanced reflections on potential futures and the inner strength required to face them.
FAQs
What is “The End We Start From” about?
It’s a British survival film set in a near-future London, where a widespread ecological disaster causes catastrophic floods. The story centers on a new mother who, with her newborn child, must navigate a world in collapse, seeking safety and trying to reunite with her family amidst overwhelming loss and societal breakdown. It’s an intimate portrayal of motherhood and resilience in a dystopian setting.
What are the critical reactions to the film?
The film has received generally positive reviews, with many praising Jodie Comer’s powerful and nuanced performance as the lead. Critics have noted its unique focus on the human and emotional impact of an environmental disaster, rather than relying on large-scale special effects. Some reviews mention it as an involving and unpredictable drama, though some found certain plotlines weak or the pacing slow.
What themes does it explore?
Beyond the immediate crisis, the film delves into themes of new motherhood, survival, loss, human connection, and resilience. It presents a thought-provoking look at how individuals cope when society unravels and how hope can emerge even in the darkest of times.
Final Thoughts
“The End We Start From” stands as a powerful and timely narrative that transcends its genre. Whether encountered as Megan Hunter’s evocative novella or Mahalia Belo’s compelling film, it offers a deeply human perspective on a world in crisis. By focusing on the primal act of motherhood against a backdrop of environmental collapse, the story reminds us of our most fundamental instincts: to protect, to connect, and to endure. In 2025, as conversations around climate change and societal resilience continue to evolve, this narrative provides a vital lens through which to examine our anxieties and, perhaps more importantly, to find a spark of hope in the possibility of new beginnings, even when everything seems lost. It underscores the idea that from endings, new starts are born, shaping the future we must inevitably navigate.
To read more, click here.
Leave a Reply