REVIEW #452 Children of Men (2006)

Children of Men

Synopsis

Set in a dystopian future, mankind is on the verge of extinction due to infertility. But when the first pregnant woman appears after 18 years, it changes everything.

My Review

Children of Men perfectly blends my love for dystopian cinema and British film, a thought provoking and often heart wrenching masterpiece. It may have been released in 2006 but the political and social commentary is a frightening reflection of the world we live in today and those themes are the life force of the film, elevating it far beyond your typical ‘fall of humanity’ flick. On a technical level, it was outstanding, with captivating cinematography, masterful use of the continuous shot (oner) and super immersive set design that provided such an authentic take of a Britain on the brink of destruction. But, with Alfonso Cuaron at the helm, I would expect nothing less! An underrated component of the film is its musical score, combining original music from John Tavener, with more classical pieces. Ultimately the music personifies two juxtaposing emotions for the audience, the sense of fear and impending doom on one hand and on the other, an immense feeling of hope, specially around Kee and the baby.

Clive Owen performed excellently as the lead protagonist, portraying a character hardened and numbed by past trauma but a man pulled back into the fight by the love of his life, just to lose everything he cared about once again. Perhaps my favourite scene of his, was the brief moment of vulnerability in the woods after Julian’s death, the drop of the guard, providing us with a glimpse of the sadness and despair hiding within Theo. In truth, there were many moments like that, moments which overwhelm your emotions, both in the heart of the action but also in the silent and quieter periods of the film too. I’m always apprehensive to provide full marks for a film and I attempt to talk myself out of it most of the time. But in my search for flaws, I come up short! Children of Men left me in awe, its twists were genuine jaw droppers and it was never afraid to make bold decisions from a narrative perspective. It wholeheartedly deserves its rating and seeing it on the big screen only emphasised its impact.

My Rating: 10 out of 10

Thanks for reading.

Film Review Club