Children of Men, 2006. My Journey into Science Fiction Part 8.

Children of Men, 2006  was written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón. The movie is a dystopian action thriller, based on the novel, The Children of Men by P.D James. The film stars Clive Owen, and has a supporting cast that includes Clare-Hope Ashitey, Micheal Caine, Julianne Moore. The film received critical acclaim, but struggled at the box office. However, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the film as the best Sci-fi of the 21st Century.

By trying to predict the future, I believe it is possible to learn something about today. In the first few minutes of this film, I am instantly reminded of why I love science fiction. I love how a writer can study today’s landscape, manipulate words, and achieve a story that feels relevant to himself, and those around him. Children of Men is one of the movies that manages to deliver that so wonderfully. The story is reminiscent of the great science fiction novels of the past, such as Brave New World and 1984. However, this feels like a story with more depth and reality than its predecessors. I live in this world, this modern landscape is familiar, and gets to me in such a tangible way, that I feel involved throughout the story. The film is beautiful, and this is the United Kingdom I care about, this is my home. Humanity is no longer able to produce children and the country looks to be on its knees, in total chaos. Theo Faron, Clive Owen plays a civil servant who is kidnapped by a gang called the Fishes This  organisation has connections to Theo’s estranged wife, Julian Taylor, Julianne Moore. Theo is asked to help an illegal refugee leave England, and escape the turmoil the country faces. The refugee is called Kee Clare-Hope Ashitey, who is carrying a child.

Theo is unaware of Kee’s secret, and agrees to help Julian for a large sum of money. Theo leaves in a car, with Luke, Julian, Kee, and a former midwife, called  Miriam. As they  head towards Canterbury, they are attacked by what can only be described as a bunch of nomads on motorcycles. Julian is shot, and killed. At this moment, Children of Men has really started to catch my attention. It’s a little difficult to try and explain how realistic this sequence is, but Alfonso Cuarón manages to put you inside that car, and you can feel the despair and fear of the characters. It’s such a wonderful piece of film making, and the film never drops in quality after that. Later, Theo learns that it was the Fishes that ordered Julian’s execution, because of their own political agenda. Theo is now determined to make sure that Kee and the midwife are delivered to safety . Before that, they need to bump start the car to evade the terrorists. If that isn’t realism, then I don’t know what is. It’s little moments like that, that make the story authentic. 

Theo decides the best place to get help is from his old friend, Jasper Palmer Michael Caine. Jasper listens to Theo’s plan to get Kee to onboard a ship called the Tomorrow. The boat will arrive near a refugee camp in Bexley Hill. We also learn that Theo and Julian had a son, called Dylan, who died during a flu pandemic. Theo was also an activist in the past. In the meantime, Theo  watches as Jasper is killed by a member of the terrorist cell. Theo escapes and meets Syd, a  that Jasper organised for his friend. Syd helps the couple board a bus to Bexhill, and hopefully get Kee onto the boat in time. However, war breaks out between the British military and the refugees in the camp. Complications come thick and fast for Theo, as Luke from the Fishes arrive at the same destination, and the pair have a bounty on their heads.  Luke captures Kee, who has now given birth to her child. But Theo manages to track Luke down in an apartment building that is now under heavy fire. Luke dies in an explosion, and Theo leads the young women away. For a short while, the fighting stops as everyone is aware of the baby. Finally, giving Theo the chance to get to the rowing boat for their rendezvous with the ship, Tomorrow. A British fighter jet begins to fire down on Bexhill, and Theo and Kee row away in heavy fog. Theo admits to Kee that he was shot and seriously injured by Luke. He shows Kee how to burp the baby. Kee has tried to come up with lots of names for the baby, which included Bazooka. But, she tells Theo, that she will name the baby girl Dylan, after his and Julian’s late son. Theo closes his eyes and slips away, as the ship finally arrives. Children’s laughter can be heard, as we cut to black. 

I know, I missed a lot of important moments from the movie, but I couldn’t wait to get to some of the themes within the story. Artists of any kind are the people who give me hope for humanity. Alternatively, I feel sad when I realise we never seem to stop fighting, or understand the reason why we do it. Like I say, my basic understanding of the human condition could be simple, but I do think it’s important to remember who you are, what you believe in, under any circumstances you may face. There always seems to be a head of something telling you what to do. There are millions of people, groups, and organisations ready to bend your ear. There is only one rule I follow, and this is simply to listen to my own thoughts. Yes, life isn’t that simple, but it works for me, and I am happy. Plus, I don’t need anybody to point out how I should live my life either. It’s easy to watch the news, and become scared of something you don’t understand. Children of Men is highly exaggerated, but it also holds an element of truth. The treatment of refugees is a theme that resonated with me during the film. England is going through a lot of changes, in such little time. However, I am still shocked how certain groups in the media continue to treat immigrants as statistics, or a threat. I know that news has played an important part in history. But in the modern landscape, it just seems to be nonsense a lot of the time, and uses fear as its unique selling point. However, when I think about immigrants, I can’t help but think of the young boy, lying on a shore, with his face down in the sand. I did notice that animals seemed to be a theme within the film, and I am unsure as to why? I noticed the pig over Battersea Power Station, similar to the album cover for Animals from Pink Floyd. If I remember correctly, that album focused on capitalism and greed, so there could be something in that.  The scene at the end felt almost biblical, Theo and Kee on the row boat, reminded me of the story of Moses. I loved this film, it was intelligent, but never hostile in its approach. It felt genuine, and it spoke to me on a level that never felt patronising. It speaks the truth, we just need to listen.  

So, where shall I be visiting next on My Journey into Science Fiction Part 9. Micheal Caine used his experiences of meeting John Lennon, as inspiration for his character, Jasper Palmer in Children of Men. However, I once again have crossed over the line from science fiction, as The Yellow Submarine, 1968 is more of a musical fantasy adventure. Anyway, as I said earlier. It’s better to stay true to your own feelings, and I need a bit of colour in my life right now.

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