January 27, 2007

• Children of Men

  

  Last night Christy and I got a chance to get out and see Children of Men. Amidst all the very strange trailers we saw a few months back for weirdo movies like The Fountain and Apocalypto, this also strange yet somewhat intriguing trailer stood out with its interesting concept of a future where everyone is infertile.

  I already received several comments on my last post saying things like “What is Children of Men?” or “I’ve never heard of that movie…” so in order to help you out, I found an unofficial site that has some interesting articles and reviews on it. It’s worth looking at if you want to learn a little about the film. Additionally, here’s the official movie site, just for kicks.

  So here’s the deal. Mike didn’t like it. He said he was on edge, the film made him uncomfortable, and he wanted to walk out. Knowing his views, I probably was a little more prepared for the intensity of the film than he was. Nonetheless, I loved it.

  It is one of those films that absolutely captivates you. From the very beginning the viewer is left thinking, “What is going on?” but not in a bad way. There is enough exposition and back story to get into their world, but not so much that the movie is at all predicable. Alfonso Cuaron does an absolutely brilliant job of creating the environment of the movie, and communicating the emotion and grittiness of the state of the world. The movie is filled with exciting twists and turns, and is able to maintain the unpredictability and intensity all the way until the end. My mind was constantly reeling and filled with wonderment (that’s a Ricky Bobby word).

  But the thing that I think Mike missed, and quite possibly a few people have missed, was the true message of the movie. The movie was not about the journey of a guy trying to get the first pregnant girl in 20 years to a safe environment. It wasn’t about the accomplishment of that journey, or about what the future would be after that happened. The movie was not about the lead characters life, or about a valiant heroine or evil antagonist.

  This film was about hopelessness.

  This film was about dispair.

  This film was an amazing and potentially accurate display of what our world would look like if all of us were left with absolutely nothing to live for.

  This film was about devaluing human life, and what happens to us when we do that to each other. It was about the darkest place of our humanity–the place we hope never comes to the surface.

  It was…terrifying.

  I have to again give props to the director for the very detailed and broad scope of the world he depicted in Children of Men. As I watched the events of the movie unfold, I thought, “Wow, this really isn’t all that far out. It feels like we’re just a few steps away from this if we’re not careful…” and I’m pretty sure there are many places in the world where the horrible things we saw happen in futuristic Britain, are happening today. Obviously, I’m not talking about the infertility, but I am thinking of the despair that much of the world must feel (the 2/3 world, I mean).

  Here’s the bottom line (almost), if you’re not completely offended by the F word, it’s absolutely worth seeing. I almost feel like the whole thing is an allegory–but I can’t really figure that all out, so I’m not convinced…but regardless, it was amazing.

  One example:
  Clive Owen’s character goes to visit his rich brother that works for the British government (the whole thing is set in Britain-they’ve closed their borders and boast being “the last union still alive” or something) and as he’s traveling there he is being driven through some of the worst areas, filled with desperate people. He goes through all kinds of gates and security and such to get to his brother’s house. His brother’s house is filled with art and servants and is so completely removed from the rest of society that it is quite the shocking contrast. After dinner, Clive Owen asks his brother, “Why do you have all of this stuff, when in 20 years no one will be here to look at it? How do you live like this?” and he so callously responds, “Well Theo, I just don’t think about it.”

  Geez. I kinda feel like that when it comes to the hurting that goes on in our world. One company estimates that Americans spend over $400 billion on Christmas presents every year, and it would only take $30 billion to end extreme poverty all across the globe. Yet, here we are, mostly just ignoring that the rest of the world is hurting. It convicts me a little bit. I feel like that jerk of a brother from the movie…

  For more info on that, you can visit one.org

  So yes, I loved the movie.
  Go see it.

  • 10:33 pm
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