re:mote voices

Title:Children of Men
Cast: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Claire-Hope Ashitey, Pam Ferris, Danny Huston, Peter Mullan
Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Children Of Men starts with the death of Baby Diego. Stabbed to death after he refused to sign an autograph. A celebrity in a world where women have stopped having children, where Diego is the youngest person on the planet, the last person born. The world has been in chaos, getting worse over the last 18 years. But while cities burn around the world, Britain remains strong through draconian rule and near martial law. Locking up every immigrant, checking ID cards, and police on every corner isn't enough though. With the death of Diego being the latest tragedy, but Theo isn't impressed, as everyone around him mourns, all he can think of is how much of a wanker Diego was anyway.

Theo takes a time out, retreating from the mass hysteria, to stay with his hippy friend Jasper out in the country. They smoke some dope, listen to loud music, and eventually he returns to London in a more relaxed manner. But no sooner has he returned than he is snatched by the Fishers, an anti-government terrorist organisation. That just happens to be led by his ex-wife, who is looking for a favour. Theo was an activist when he met Julien, but has been worn down by the system. Despite his reluctance, he decides to do what he can to help, though is quickly drawn in deeper than he planned. With things very quickly getting out of hand when he realises that the favour involves a miracle that might just change everything.

From the little I know of P.D. James, I would never have guessed that the film Children of Men was based on one of her novels. A writer of thrillers rather than science fiction, but science fiction this is. The film adapted and directed by the Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón, who has established a definite reputation and a diverse portfolio over the last few years. Cuarón made his debut with Y Tu Mama Tambien a comic road movie with political asides and tragic undertones. Somehow from that he was selected to direct the third Harry Potter film, The Prisoner of Azkeban, probably the darkest and most interesting of the Potter films today.

Cuarón's Children of Men is a bleak and gritty near future affair, starting with a Blade Runneresque London. That gets bleaker as it goes on: explosions in the streets, detention cages in every station, garbage piling high, livestock burning, beatings, murders, brutality. One review I read after seeing the film suggested the issues of terrorism, environmentalism and immigration are all news and that perhaps Cuarón is out of touch, I wonder what world they are living in? The suggestions that Children Of Men is too bleak may be more valid, at times it is chokingly bleak, but edges of humour shine through, taking the edge of the tension periodically.

Clive Owen is the real star of this film, even with smaller parts by the likes of Michael Cane, Julianne Moore, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Huston and Pam Ferris. Owen is sometimes over rated, if likeable. But here he shines. He does the cynical dead pan and hard bitten that he always does so readily, but also exhibits a fragility and determination.

Often science fictions films are action films in disguise, a back drop for the tired formula of people running about and things blowing up. There are a handful of memorable films, which have a greater depth without necesarily being effects heavy productions that most people will think of as science fiction. Children of Men fits in there with films like Gattaca, Code 46 and perhaps for its apocalyptic flavour Time Of The Wolf. Children Of Men is not perfect, but i'd be hard pushed to think of something that was. I thoroughly enjoyed this film - beautiful, stunning, and memorable.