The End We Start From (2023) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The story takes place primarily in London, England, during catastrophic flooding that devastates the city. The family later seeks refuge on a remote island, which becomes a sanctuary away from the chaos and represents a sense of community as survivors band together to withstand the crisis.

• london
• england
• remote island
• flood setting
• survival location

The movie is set in contemporary times, depicting a near-future scenario marked by extreme weather events and humanitarian crises. The setting reflects a world grappling with climate-related catastrophes and societal breakdown, though it is not anchored to a specific historical year.

• contemporary
• modern era
• future climate
• flood crisis

The movie explores three interconnected themes: Survival, which focuses on the characters' struggle to find food and shelter amid natural disaster and societal collapse; Loss, which examines the profound grief from losing loved ones and former lives; and Homecoming, which follows the journey toward belonging as characters leave devastation and eventually return to reclaim their sense of identity and stability.

• survival
• loss
• homecoming
• themes
• belonging

The movie portrays survival as a constant battle against both environmental catastrophe and personal despair. Characters are forced to make difficult choices in their fight for existence, and the narrative ultimately highlights the resilience of the human spirit, demonstrating that hope can persist even when circumstances appear bleak.

• survival
• human resilience
• desperation
• adaptation

Loss permeates the narrative as characters experience profound grief from the deaths of loved ones and the destruction of their former lives. The movie illustrates how personal tragedies create a domino effect of despair that ripples through families and communities, emphasizing the emotional toll of the crisis on individuals.

• grief
• death
• family loss
• emotional trauma

The central protagonist is a young mother portrayed by Jodie Comer. She is thrust into a survival situation amid catastrophic flooding and must protect her newborn baby, Zeb, while navigating the collapse of her world. Her journey reflects profound determination and the deep yearning to reunite with her family despite overwhelming adversity.

• jodie comer
• mother
• main character
• baby zeb

R is the woman's husband, portrayed by Joel Fry. He struggles with the stress of the crisis and the emotional devastation of losing his parents during the chaos. His journey is defined by grief and the fight to maintain hope while searching for his family, representing the human struggle against despair in a fragmented world.

• joel fry
• husband
• R
• family reunion

R's father N is portrayed by Mark Strong, and his mother G is portrayed by Nina Sosanya. N succumbs to despair during the crisis, representing the devastating impact of isolation and loss on mental health. G meets a tragic end while trying to provide for her family in desperate circumstances, embodying the maternal instinct to protect even at great personal risk.

• mark strong
• nina sosanya
• parents
• death
• family tragedy

The movie depicts a world in crisis where catastrophic flooding has devastated a major metropolis, forcing inhabitants to flee and seek refuge in unexpected places. It portrays societal collapse where communities must band together for survival, and the remote island represents an alternative society built on collective resilience rather than urban infrastructure.

• society collapse
• climate crisis
• flood
• dystopian world
• community

The movie maintains a tense and emotionally heavy atmosphere throughout, driven by constant crisis, violent death, separation, and the threat of danger. The narrative is characterized by sustained anxiety and struggle for survival, with no room for humor or significant romance. The ending is bittersweet, while the family reunites, it comes after severe trauma in a devastated world, indicating victory tempered by irreversible grief.

• tone
• emotional weight
• tension
• bittersweet ending
• drama