Audrey’s Children Review: A Heartfelt Tribute to a Trailblazing Doctor

The powerful and sometimes overlooked story of Dr. Audrey Evans is told in the new film Audrey’s Children, starring Natalie Dormer.

Evans was a trailblazing British oncologist who greatly impacted the fight against childhood cancer during the 1960s and ’70s. Audrey’s Children showcases her important achievements, like creating the Neuroblastoma Staging System and opening the first Ronald McDonald House.

The heartfelt film is eye-opening, especially if you’re unfamiliar with all the amazing work Dr. Evans has done in pediatric oncology. One of the most emotional parts is seeing the sick kids who, honestly, don’t fully grasp how serious their situations are while they fight through their treatments. Watching these kids, often scared during their doctor visits, hits hard for anyone who has been through medical stuff as a child.

Seeing Audrey’s Children brought back a flood of memories about my own fears of going to the doctor and the dentist when I was little, making the whole film even more impactful.

Natalie Dormer does an amazing job as Dr. Evans. As Audrey, she shows strength and determination. Audrey wants to make life better for sick kids and is dedicated to helping families deal with their children’s treatments, which is inspiring. She’s a bold and adventurous woman who stands up for her research and fights for the kids who need her, even though she doesn’t have kids of her own.

In a way, Audrey acts like a surrogate mother to those she’s trying to help, which makes Dormer’s performance both compassionate and fierce.

Clancy Brown stands out in this movie, just like he does in everything else. His acting skills are impressive, and having him in Audrey’s Children makes the cast even better.

The kids fighting cancer are incredibly brave, often showing more courage than the adults around them. The film does a great job of capturing the complicated emotions that come with their struggles.

While the film shines with its outstanding performances and emotional moments, it does have some pacing problems. Some moments feel a bit slow, and some bits of the story, like the detailed science behind Audrey’s work, aren’t explored as much as you’d expect. Had the film dug deeper into the science of her groundbreaking discoveries, it could have made the story even more captivating.

Even with some minor hiccups, the film builds emotional depth as it goes on. Audrey’s Children shines a light on Dr. Evans’ amazing work and pays tribute to her legacy.

It’s surprising and heartwarming to learn that this film shares how the Ronald McDonald House got started, which has helped millions of families around the globe. Dr. Evans’ efforts have truly made a difference, with childhood cancer survival rates jumping from just 10% when she first began to nearly 80% today.

Audrey’s Children is a delightful and uplifting nod to a groundbreaking woman who changed the lives of so many kids. While the pace and focus on certain parts might not completely do the film the heartfelt moments, solid performances, and emotional journey make it worth watching.

Have you had a chance to see Audrey’s Children yet? Let us know your thoughts on the film in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!

Audrey’s Children is currently available in theaters.

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Sean Tajipour