Review: Children of Men

There are some films that when you see, they just take hold of you, leaving you with so much to say about them, that it's, essentially, impossible to accurately describe how they make you feel. For me, Children of Men turned out to be one of those films. I knew I was going to enjoy this film immediately after watching the trailer months ago; but just how much I was going to enjoy it, I had no idea. Simply put: I love this movie! However, in recommending it, I find myself a bit torn in two. This film is quite possibly the most hopelessly hopeful film that I've ever had the pleasure of suffering through. Throughout the entire experience rests a pervading sense of despair. It's nearly impossible to imagine that Theo and Kee will live and see their journey through. Children of Men made me both incredibly happy and hopeful, but equally sad, all at the same time.

Children of Men takes place two decades from now in a future where the entire planet has descended into chaos and war, with the only standing and functional government being that of Britain's. It's never made clear whether the world's state is because of the inability of women to have children, but in any case, the point is that the world has completely gone to Hell. It's a world completely devoid of hope, filled with terrorism, fascism, and fringe elements just waiting to blow you up, arrest you, or smash your head in for no real reason. The country side is littered with massive pyres of burnt cattle and sewers vomit unknown filth into the streams and rivers, while gigantic smoke stacks blast the blackest smoke you could imagine into Britain's air. It's difficult to articulate my feelings here because it's mainly derived from the visuals; yet you may understand if you see the film yourself.

At the beginning of the film Clive Owen's character, Theo, is buying a cup of coffee, squeezing through a mass of people whose eyes are cemented to the television where news of the death of the planet's youngest person, Diego Ricardo, 18, hits them like a sledgehammer. Theo doesn't bat an eye. After exiting the shop he heads down the block a bit, and after setting his cup down to spike it, the coffee shop he just exited is rocked by a massive explosion, sending blood and debris into the streets. A single woman stands, clutching her severed arm while screaming in agony. This is the world of Children of Men. After a bit between Theo and his old friend, Jasper (Michael Caine), Theo is abducted by a terrorist group known as "The Fishes", and led by Julian (Julianne Moore), Theo's ex-wife, and the mother of his dead child. Julian asks a favor of him, which he reluctantly accepts, eventually leading him to escort a young "fugee", or refugee, named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey), to a refugee camp called Bexhill on Britain's shore. There they are to take a small boat out to sea to rendezvous with another vessel, the "Tomorrow", operated by the possibly fictitious "Human Project", whose goal is to solve the mystery of human infertility and save mankind. Kee is important because in her belly grows the first child to be born in nearly 19 years, and if she dies, then the little hope left for mankind dies with her.

Watching this film I was reminded a bit of another movie I'd seen back in September, The Departed. I'm reminded of that film because of the ultra-realistic depiction of violence and death that both films portray. When a character is killed, it just happens and with the constant action going on up on the screen, you're given little time to react to it. However, unlike The Departed, in Children of Men, when a character died, I cared. I felt the sadness and fear that Theo and Kee were experiencing. As well, despite being firmly planted in Great Britain, the implications of Theo and Kee's quest will be felt the world over. If this baby dies, the world will know, and, no doubt, mankind will slip even further into its insanity, left with nothing but the anticipation of its inexorable doom.

Another high (or low) point is that the film depicts mankind as it really is: brutal, hateful, and most of all, evil. Too many films go and are as brutally honest about our humanity as Children of Men, only to pull back in the end, and cop out by giving some ludicrously hollow, and unbelievable denouement. But Children of Men pulls absolutely no punches, and there are no truly happy endings or changes of heart for its characters. In this world, people are people, and ultimately grow very little. As well, after the credits begin rolling, we aren't guaranteed anything at all. We don't know if humanity is saved by the birth of Kee's child, and I have to respect a film with big enough balls to do that. Alfonso Cuaron knows he's crafted a masterpiece with this film, and remains confident in his vision despite how "indie" and out of the mainstream its tone may be.

So how could I possibly recommend a movie like this? In my mind, this is one of those rare films which are not only great but important. This movie, like Schindler's List, or Hotel Rwanda, needs to be seen, if only because it calls attention to aspects of our nature as human beings which we're much more comfortable ignoring; but also because it does so incredibly well, tugging at the strings of our hearts. This film shows how absolutely depraved, twisted, and backwards we as humans are; yet it also shows what good we're capable of. Even more importantly is the Christian aspect of this film which, while certainly not the director's aim, is quite stark. Theo and Kee's world is one where hope is an alien concept to its citizens. Their journey takes place in the midst of a literal Hell on Earth, where the odds are unimaginably stacked against these two. But in a world gone mad, hope has appeared; in the film it comes in the form of Kee's child. In reality, hope entered our world in the same way, to bring light and hope to a world in need of salvation; only that child was no mere man, but God himself.

Finally, I know I've painted a truly bleak and unpleasant picture of this movie, but if you go to see it, prepare to be moved in a way that no other movie, aside from, possibly, The Passion, has been able to accomplish. While watching this film I told my brother that it was one of the most frightening experiences I'd ever had, and it was; however, it was also one of the most heart-rending as well, and I think that from time to time, that's just what we, especially Americans, need to shake us out of our proud little existences and force us to remember that all is not well in the world. As a Christian, I often forget that fact. I'm mighty comfortable as an American, sitting here day after day, with my biggest problem being getting up in time to make it to class, or having to pay the rent. To all my brothers and sisters in Christ, we have work to do in the world, and I pray that we don't forget that.

As for this film, if you're concerned with the state of affairs in the world, if you're worried about the repercussions of mankind's reckless toying with genetics and the natural world, if you're concerned for humanity and our future, or if you just want to see some great action, see Children of Men.