Children Of Men

Directed by Alfonso Cuaran, Children Of Men gives the viewer front-row insight into an overwhelmingly bleak, totalitarian society that could well be our future. Based on a novel by P.D. James, Children Of Men is a cautionary tale. It reminds us of the results of apathy, and how simply hope can be restored if and when the doldrums of apathy are shaken off.

Clive Owen is Theo Faron, a 40-something former political activist who lives in England in 2027. He's apolitical now, burned out on personal tragedy and efforts that produced no real progressive change. Faron's England is a police state, governed by those who capture, cage and torture illegal immigrants (called Fugees) on a daily basis. Eighteen years earlier--and for reasons that are never explained in the film--women became incapable of getting pregnant.

Humanity is dying, and no one can reverse the process. There is no future to live for, and societal values have broken down.

The inability to produce children is a terrific way to illustrate the devastating hopelessness that exists in this future society. There is something compelling about the innocence of an infant. Untouched by evils like greed, selfishness, ambition and envy, babies remain the hope for our future. We hope our kids can be better people than we are. We hope they can make the world a better place. If we couldn't, maybe they can.

If that hope is taken away, what else is there to live for?

Faron becomes involved in an underground uprising, which is focused on overthrowing the totalitarian rule. While assisting a Fuggee in her attempt to get out of the city unharmed, Faron discovers that she is, miraculously, pregnant. Getting her to her destination now becomes even more important. He's no longer simply helping another human being navigate through dangerous circumstances; Faron is now delivering hope to the rest of mankind.

Hope in the form of an infant, with a future-full of possibilities.

Children Of Men is clearly a flick inspired by political events of this decade. Connections are made early with the War On Terror and the war in Iraq, and how those events influenced how future societies are governed. The inability to produce children is a terrific metaphor for the loss of hope for many in the world. We are reminded that apathy can lead to destruction, but only if we allow it.

Children of Men is a terrific, thought-provoking movie. You should check it out.