A Thoroughly Chilling Yet Profoundly Inspiring Movie

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2008)

Frightening movies tend to be scariest when they make us consider the possibility that the movie's fictional story might one day become reality. That's the kind of fear factor we have to confront in this masterpiece called "Children of Men." Because it is set some 20 years in the future, the movie has to be categorized as science fiction or possibly prophetic fiction. But the most science fictional element it contains is its well-known premise that the last child is born in 2009 and we human beings find ourselves approaching almost certain extinction until a miraculous pregnancy occurs in 2027. Everything else in the movie is too plausible for comfort.
Although the P.D. James novel on which this film is based was first published in 1992, it could just as easily have been penned last year to provoke discussions on the current state, and possible fate, of the world as we know it in 2008. Issues such as conflicts over illegal immigration, nuclear war, public anarchy, and overwhelming personal angst dominate this film. Depending on which side of the political and nationalist fence one stands on, these elements may or may not appear to be exaggerated.
Clive Owens as Theo Faron, Claire-Hope Ashitey as Kee, Michael Caine as Jasper, and Julianne Moore as Julian Taylor each portray characters that history seems at first to have tossed aside. Theo, Jasper, and Julian have all seen stronger days as youthful rebels but it is the innocent-yet-not-so-innocent Kee who revitalizes their lives and the world's hope with her phenomenal pregnancy. The term "immaculate" does not apply here. As they struggle and sometimes die to literally keep hope alive, history turns them into incredibly flawed, wounded, and mesmerizing heroes.
Dystopian in its visionary outlook, "Children of Men" contains scenes that are agonizingly ugly followed by scenes that are intoxicatingly beautiful. Those who have read James' novel know that director Alfonso Cuaron took creative liberties with its adaptation to the big screen. Most agree that the liberties taken did the book justice. There are several excellent commentaries on the DVD--one comes from philosopher and social critic Slavoj Zizek, who states: "Only films like this will guarantee that cinema as art will really survive." That's of course if films like this remain fiction and real-life artists like Cuaron survive the chaos of modern times well enough to continue making them.
by Aberjhani, author of "The Bridge of Silver Wings"