Children of Men
21 November 2022
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
See
Him: Children of Men directed by Alfonso Cuaron is the story of Theo (Clive Owen) escorting Kee across a post apocalyptic England, as she’s the first pregnant woman in 18 years. His Ex, Julian (Julianne Moore) is the leader of rebel group the Fishes, a resistance against the totalitarian government persecuting refugees in 2027.
Her: Dystopian film Children of Men, set up by Alfonso Cuaron in 2027, based on a famous book. Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, and Michael Caine.
Think
Him: On previous viewings I hadn’t quite noticed Theo’s resignation, after the world has fallen into anarchy when (prior to the events of the movie) his baby with Julian had died. And women could no longer have children. He’s an unexpectedly suave hero. Acting out of desperation, who thinks laterally and is repeatedly lucky. I liked his friendship with Michal Caine as Jasper, a hippie retired political cartoonist living in seclusion with his invalid wife. Only this time I noticed news clipping saying, ‘Mi5 denies torture of photojournalist’.
Her: Made me think of the Black Mirror concept where sci-fi concepts of near future are a little too close to home and seem actually pretty possible. Also made me think of 1984, and computer games. I didn’t quite understand what the terrorists groups wanted to do with the child. And why people running down te hill at the beginning killed Julianne Moore. Was it a mistake?
Feel
Him: It’s too late, the world’s gone to shit already’ Cuaron (with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki) paints the picture of a shattered world. The moments when Theo is trying to get back to Kee, with blood spatters on the camera, it shakes as explosions sounds and tinnitus rings, all magnifies how devastatingly well it’s shot. Theo and Julian’s self sacrifice so that Kee and her baby could get to the Human Project scientists all tied together with naming her baby Dylan after theirs.
She: Disturbed. Lovely moment where Theo and Kee are walking down the building and then amongst the soldiers and everybody giving them way. It’s a beautifully shot film which ‘hovers’, found it hard to relate to. Dystopian stories create an interesting exasperated perspective of an alternative realty we could exist in. It felt heavy as a concept of the Human Project seemed too miraculous. The appearance of the tomorrow boat is symbolic but I don’t buy it. The movie’s current day was a tomorrow at some point as well.