I became a parent quite late, comparatively speaking, and can attest that the unrelieved care of a small child is a massive assault on the nerves and a negation of one's identity. So I'm not without sympathy for the lead character in this movie. Its simply not for everyone, but some people don't realize this until it's too late. I note that there are a lot of reviewers who are unsympathetic (largely male I assume), chiefly expressing the same bafflement as the husband in the picture. Anyone who watches family history programs must be aware that parental desertions are quite common in real life. We praise the strength of the remaining parent, and consider the one that does the runner to be selfish and despicable. Yet I have to say that when Gemma Arterton's character takes off in this movie, I was cheering. I fully accept that she understood that she was unable to be a positive factor in her childrens' lives, and she was doing something that was essential to her survival. That's about the extent of my support as I found the balance of the movie disappointing. I would have liked to see her take some positive steps to build a new life, and to demonstrate some self insights and a path out of depression. But we don't get any of that, the best you can say is that she is maybe seeing a way to put guilt aside. There is a lot of powerful material here which certainly engages, however you want to judge the wife. To this extent I feel that it is underrated.
Review of The Escape
