Children of Men
Overview
Children of Men is a 2006 dystopian action thriller film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, based on the 1992 novel by P.D. James. The film is set in the United Kingdom in 2027, 18 years after a global infertility crisis has left humanity with no hope for the future. The world is in chaos: wars, terrorism, and societal collapse are everywhere. The youngest person on Earth is 18 years old. The film follows Theo Faron (Clive Owen), a disillusioned former activist who is now a bureaucrat. He is approached by his ex-wife, Julian (Julianne Moore), who is the leader of a rebel group called the Fishes. She asks him to help transport a pregnant refugee, Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey), to a research vessel called the Human Project. Kee is the first pregnant woman in 18 years, and she represents the hope for humanity's future. The film is a single, continuous tracking shot masterpiece. The long takes are breathtaking, and they create a sense of immersion and urgency. The most famous shot is a 10-minute continuous take of a battle sequence in a refugee camp. The film is a meditation on hope, despair, and the value of human life. The film ends with Theo sacrificing himself to get Kee to the Human Project. He rows a small boat through the fog, and he is shot. Kee is rescued, and the boat drifts toward the ship. Children of Men was a critical success, earning over $70 million on a $76 million budget. It was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. The film is a masterpiece of science fiction cinema, a dark, powerful, and ultimately hopeful film about the resilience of the human spirit.
