Children Of Men

At the start of this film, it was unclear as to how this specific plot fit into a dystopian themed movie.  Yes, it is set in the future, the world has become chaotic and out of control and the main character seems to have no purpose in life.  But these are all staples for a dystopian film.  What I was interested in is how would this film be different from the rest?  Now that I have discovered the formula for a dystopian film would I become bored and would the film become predictable?

These are questions I asked myself during the opening scene as the camera glides over the bombings of London and flashes news reports of the chaos happening around the globe.  But then I realized something.  This film is just as over the formula as I am but still interested in it's main themes.  Right away the dystopian world is presented and the audience is able to move on from that fact immediately.  The camera purposefully films the city from afar using long lenses making the physical distance mimic the mental disinterest of the typical dystopian scene.  For example, when Theo awakes in his bedroom the set shows a large window looking over the city below.  However, Theo is not standing at the window saddened over the city but rather has other things on his mind. Underlying issues of the society to be revealed, explored,but most of all, understood and appreciated for all that they are worth. The end of society as we know it is just the beginning of the story the film is about to unfold.

In order to understand this film in its entirety I found myself asking more questions.  With the other films we had to review for this class I simply analyzed the details to make sense to why the world presented was dytopian.  For example, in The Handmaid's Tale, I saw that specific colored uniforms represents the class segregation. Fight club plays with the idea of perception by creating two characters that are actually one.  1984 explores how offsetting the balance of society can destroy humanity.  All these prior films use the details to ultimately say "This world is dystopian."  But the final message in Children of Men is not that the world the characters are a part of is a dystopia, but rather it takes all that makes up a dystopian society, and moves past it to a deeper meaning; a deeper purpose.  After this realization, I had to use what I know about dystopian society in order to uncover and appreciate the deeper purpose; in this case saving the miracle baby amidst an infertile world.

Dystopia's pride themselves to be about the battle of man amidst unbalance and thus men find themselves within an inhumane world.  Children of Men does the opposite.  They explore humanity, seeing it as the balance while the rest is a journey between chance and faith.  Chance meaning life and faith meaning purpose.  Once people loose purpose (faith) in life (chance) they spiral down an inhumane pathway leading to destruction and chaos; something that Jasper touches on briefly.

But, what if someone does have a purpose.  And what happens when a person with none meets that person.  In this case, Theo, wondering aimlessly though dystopia meets Kee, the only pregnant woman in the world.  Thus, the journey begins to protect Kee and bring her and her baby to freedom despite the dystopian society around them.

Along the way, Kee and Theo meet many interesting characters that help them protect Kee.  Jasper is one of these characters who died protecting Kee's purpose.  However, their is one specific scene that very subtly foreshadows the fact that Theo is not actually the main character but rather just another protector along Kee's journey.  When Theo takes Mariam, another one of Kee's protectors, and Kee herself to the school to meet the Syd, the police man who will help them "break into" the refugee camp, Theo is seen leaving a beam of light.  A simple, yet powerful, beam of light is what foreshadows his death.  Theo is shot in close-up within the car almost washed out by how much light there is flooding the scene.  This might be the point in the film where Theo realizes his own purpose is to protect Kee.  He steps out with the light still coming up over the roof of the school but as he walks into the man made building the light instantly disappears.  Once his purpose is fulfilled he is fulfilled and therefore, his journey will end.  This fact is presented sooner using Mariam as the first example.  On the bus into the refugee camp an officer tries to take Kee.  But Mariam stands up against the officer, in between the two praying over the Kee.  A beam of light flashes down on her as well.  She is then removed from the bus.  It is unclear what happens to her but all that really matters is that she left the journey protecting Kee; very honorable indeed.  Marichka is another example of Kee's protectors.  When she refused to get on the boat that would ultimately take Kee to her freedom it showed that she realized her place within this journey and it was not about her.  Just as it is not about Theo either.

And so, on the boat we watch the hazy midst and muted tones of the surroundings overcome Theo as he passes away.  I liked how the film ended because though we can assume Kee safely boards the boat it is unclear.  But another realization sets in.  The main purpose for this journey is to protect the child.  Before, the child and Kee acted as one.  But now Kee is the only one left to protect the baby.  Theo begs Kee before dying to never let go of that child and so the film ends when a new journey is meant to begin.  If there was a second movie I could see it being about the child's journey throughout life and perhaps at some point, because all movies thirst for drama, Kee could potentially be killed off as well.

As I questioned before, the film was a bit predictable about Theo specifically but I enjoyed the angle it took when exploring a dystopian society.  It shined light back into humanity and presented some hope; just as the child of Kee provided hope and purpose for them. 

The filming techniques of this movie kept each and every scene grounded to reality.  There was no dramatic music but instead silence where there would actually be silence.  With ears that are used to hearing music to heighten the intensity of a scene, not hearing music provided even deeper intensity.  For example, when Theo, Mariam and Kee are escaping the FISHES headquarters and the car won't start that whole scene feels long and drawn out but is actually filmed in real time.  No music made me unsure as to what might happen next and question if they would even get away.  I feel like this movie did a wonderful job of following this journey realistically and even if at times felt predictable. 

There is so much more to talk about due to the fact that this movie was filled with much symbolism but perhaps that is what set it apart from the other dystopian films.