Films To Watch Before You Die #71 - Children of Men (2006)

Originally published March 26, 2012. Updated April 10, 2018.

D.J. Haza presents the next entry in his series of films to watch before you die…

Children of Men, 2006.

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón.
Starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Claire-Hope Ashitey, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Pam Ferris and Danny Huston.

Children of Men is set in a futuristic world not too far from our own. Almost 20 years of human infertility has left society in a mess, with Britain becoming a militarized police state and illegal immigrants being detained in camps. A group of activists fight for the rights of immigrants, but the Government rule with an iron fist.

Theo (Owen) is a British civil servant and former activist who is requested by his estranged wife Julian (Moore) to create a safe passage for a young refugee named Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey). Julian is still very active in her role as political activist and the young girl is pregnant. Theo has access to people who can provide the necessary papers to get Kee out of London and to the coast, where they plan to get her to a group called the “Human Project” who are a group of scientists working on curing the infertility.

Theo takes on the job and transports Kee through London to a supposed safe house in the country, but he finds out that people are plotting against him. He makes a break for it and gets to his friend Jasper’s house (Caine), but it isn’t safe there either and he’s quickly forced to move on. Theo and Kee also pass through a refugee camp that is almost at war in order to get to the coast. All the while Theo tries to come to terms with the loss of his own son – the reason he and Julian grew apart.

Children of Men is a magnificent film about humanity, morality and the will to survive. A brilliant story is woven together beautifully and carries so many warnings as to the conduct of humanity towards each other. Themes of hope and faith throughout the film are thought provoking and the ending’s ambiguity is open to discussion. The film’s design, style and mise-en-scene are all well thought out and bring the film to life despite their dark and bleak connotations.

Children of Men is a film you must see before you die as it provokes thought, tells a great story, has wonderful themes and is shot so beautifully. Everything a film should offer is on display in a magnificent piece of cinema.