Entertainment
20 Years Later, This Remains the Most Perfect R-Rated Sci-Fi Movie of All Time
Some of the best sci-fi movies are so pointed that they continue to be relevant decades after the fact. Social commentary has always been at the heart of good science fiction, and 20 years later, one of these classics still holds up. Immigration, fascism, and dread are all at the center of one of the best dystopian films of all time.
While the relevance of these themes is not exactly promising for the current state of affairs in real life, it does make Children of Men timeless. Premiering in 2006, the film was a beautifully directed adaptation of P.D. James’ book. In a not-so-distant future, infertility has become a worldwide epidemic, and the human race is desperately trying to hold on. England is one of the last surviving nations and has caved to scapegoating refugees from other countries.
In the midst of it all is Theo, an alcoholic with nothing to live for, played with heart-wrenching emotion by Clive Owen. Children of Men is a masterful film, hinting at a bleak future that is frighteningly even more relevant now than it was when it premiered. Despite its darkness, it still strikes a chord because of the content and the final scene filled with hope.
‘Children of Men’ Earned Its R-Rating
Science fiction has gradually reached a point where these stories seem within reach; Children of Men most of all. Theo lives in a world where the last baby was born 18 years ago; and this world is brutal. Morale in the world is at an all-time low, and there seems to be no respite from the harrowing reality. The political landscape is accentuated by Alfonso Cuarón’s masterful filmmaking.
Before the best space film, Gravity, Cuarón proved he could convey an upsetting world with beautiful filmmaking techniques. One of the most famous sequences in the film is a one-shot inside a moving vehicle that captures some of the most tragic moments of the film. Cuarón and his cinematographer rejected the use of CGI and shot the scene with full 360-degree coverage. This practical effect is a standout in the film and contributes to Children of Men not feeling dated.
After Theo’s ex Julian (Julianne Moore) recruits him to help a “fugee” escape, their car is attacked by marauders. While her role is short-lived, the brutality of her death and how it was captured on film elevated the stakes of the scene. Though the scene didn’t glamorize the violence of her death, it was still evocative and painful. This scene ensures that viewers understand how difficult this world is and what is required to achieve the hopeful ending that Children of Men concludes with.
Theo finds this hope when he learns why the refugee Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) is so important and this spurs him to action after so many years of giving up. Children of Men makes it clear that there is nothing more important than striving for a better world, and Kee’s role as the first person to give birth in almost two decades represents that. Though the film doesn’t shy away from its bleakness, it also shows a light at the end of the tunnel.
Even in the war-torn streets, everyone puts down their arms when they realize Kee is holding the first baby in decades. Children of Men is a fully engrossing film that doesn’t just work on a thematic level, but is a masterclass in filmmaking. Cuarón’s work is a beautiful meditation on the human condition that is realistic but also maintains the idea that one person can make a difference.
Children of Men
- Release Date
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January 5, 2007
- Runtime
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109 minutes
- Director
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Alfonso Cuarón
- Writers
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Alfonso Cuarón, David Arata, Timothy J. Sexton, Hawk Ostby, Mark Fergus, P. D. James
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