Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men (2006) demonstrates a world where humans cannot reproduce and are at risk of extinction. With Britain the last working nation left, and the rest in turmoil, the plot unfolds. Many people wish to immigrate, making immigration the biggest public problem. Britain has turned into a police state under the control of a faceless and anonymous government. This has led to immigrants being placed in refugee camps. We follow Theo Faron’s (Clive Owen), as we watch him fight for Earth’s survival, and save the planet from any danger.
The film is about an infertility epidemic that makes the world more desolate. The film is centered on the hope that Kee and her miracle baby bring to this world. Many refugees arrive in Britain hoping for a better life. Cuaron stresses that the film’s central theme of hope drives all the characters to continue moving forward. Cuaron ends his film on a positive note by pointing out the approaching boat (Tomorrow), which again emphasizes the theme hope. Cuaron cleverly uses camera work to emphasize specific scenes and highlight their significance. Kee talks to Theo in the barn and shares her pregnancy with him. This is one of my favourite scenes from the film. Kee starts the scene by talking about how farmers trim cow’s tits to fit milking machines. Kee’s location in the middle allows for an audience to better understand her message. It shows the cows being milked from their sides. This conversation is powerful in that it creates a symbolic connection between Kee’s brutal tone and Theo’s refugee status. The camera turns to Theo at this point and shows that he’s confused about what the conversation is about and how he feels about helping Kee. The scene continues, and Theo refuses to help Kee. The camera then focuses on Kee as she starts to change into her normal clothes, showing her pregnant belly. Theo is surprised by the scene and the camera starts playing some ominous music. The director uses Kee’s actions to remove her clothes, focus on the camera and ominous music to make this scene more significant. This builds suspense for Kee’s revealing of her pregnancy. Theo decides to help Kee after learning the truth about her pregnancy. This scene is significant thematically because it highlights the idea hope.
Children of Men is an affecting thriller set in a grim world of industrial decay. It is a wonderfully directed film that shows the horrors of modern life through the eyes of a woman. Cuaron asks for us to find hope through a dreary story about a nativity, in which a reluctant hero attempts to save a child in need of a rescuer. Children of Men is both soul-crushing as well as spirit-lifting.
