Children of Men Review

Children of Men Review

Children of Men, directed by Alfonso Cuarón, works on every level in my mind: as a violent chase thriller, a fantastic cautionary tale, and a sophisticated human drama about societies struggling to live a life of normalcy. This taut and thought-provoking tale may not have the showy special effects normally found in movies of this genre, but you won't care one bit after the story kicks in, about a dystopian future where women can no longer conceive and hope lies within one woman who holds the key to humanity's survival. It will have you riveted. Children of Men transports us one generation into the future when mass infertility has plunged the world into despair, paranoia and chaos. Rioting has overtaken the globe, with the exception of England. As the film opens, political activist Theo (played by Clive Owen) is in a London coffee house watching the news of the death of the earth's youngest person at just 18. News of this unexpected death sends a grim ripple of uncertainty throughout the world, adding one final blow to humankind's death sentence. Theo, like many in England, lives a life that seems hopeless and meaningless. Then Theo is confronted with the one thing he never expected; a lone pregnant woman named Kee (played by Clare-Hope Ashitey). Kee is a wanted woman, pursued by various groups determined to claim her and the miracle of a child for their own political purposes. She's also a hated fugitive from Africa, and Theo knows that the government would never accept that the child who could restore meaning and hope to the world could be anything but British. Theo and his aging friend Jasper (Michael Cane) must begin a desperate race against the clock, and perhaps even fate, to deliver Kee to safety with the mysterious and confusing "Human Project." This movie is definitely no empty-plotted action film. It is rich with social and spiritual subtext. It’s overall theme is hope: how we thrive in it’s presence and find ourselves lost in it’s absence. Theo undergoes rejuvenation when his hope is restored through the promise of a new birth. The change in his character throughout is powerful, as is the change in everyone who encounters the pregnant woman, Kee. Her very presence-the touchable symbol of a future, restores their faith and inspires them to kindness, courage and sacrifice.
The film explores a number of societal and social issues. Mass infertility functions as a main cause for concern in the story, representing any problematic event that shakes a society loose from its principles and shared humanity. We begin to see how a climate of fear can drive a society (and individuals) inward, destroying walls in it’s desperation for protection and sacrificing true freedom for what we think is safety and security. We are shown how easy it is to slip into dehumanizing and demonizing those who are different in appearance, speech, beliefs or capabilities. Issues of immigration, racism, terrorism and the environment all play a part in this film.
The sheer nature of this film have even the most easy-going of people rather worried. According to the movie, woman became infertile in the early 21st century, where we are currently. Fast forward to 2027 when the film is set and you find science is powerless, experts know nothing and a sense of chaos has ensued. The government is in shambles, and people fear for the looming extinction of mankind altogether.
A specifically impactful piece in this novel was the ending scene. Kee and Theo float aimlessly on a small boat when Theo finally tells Kee of his injuries. “It’s going to be okay,” he says, just before slipping away. The last seen in the movie leaves us hopeful: a much larger boat floats by them, aptly named “Tomorrow.” We as the audience are comforted, knowing that there will indeed be a tomorrow for Kee and her precious baby.
Cuarón’s film craft, such as the lengthy shots create a sense of reality. The dystopian images come to front and center and reel in viewers. If left without the specially chosen lighting and shot length, the movie itself would be lacking in key characteristics needed to reach the ideal mood and theme for this film.
Children of Men is a scary look into the not-so-distant, not-so-inconceivable future. The line between who is good and who is bad is non-existent as even the rebels are acting more to fulfill their own desire for power rather than to help the fallen masses. Yet Children of Men is not a hopeless story, but more of a cautionary tale as stated earlier. And the way Cuarón tells it, one where a ray of hope shines through during mankind’s bleakest moments.