It’s the End of the World as We Know It

One of my favourite film styles is the post apocalyptic genre. Depending on the time of production, these movies depict the fears of the day. For instance, in 1973 Soylent Green was made, which highlighted the possibility of overpopulation, lack of employment and most importantly, food shortages; (look for a review of this film at a later date). Quite differently, in the 2006 motion picture Children of Men, we see quite the opposite – a world that is dying as humans are no longer able to procreate.

The movie follows Theo (Clive Owen), a man who has lost all faith. He lives in the year 2027 where the world looks eerily familiar. Technology has advanced, but with the end of the human race not far off, there is something dark and empty in this futuristic Earth. From terrorist attacks in coffee shops, to deporting immigrants who have attempted to sneak into the last civilized country on Earth (United Kingdom), this is a nation that is teetering on the brink of losing its humanity. Things are especially grave as the youngest human being alive, Diego, has died at “18 years, 4 months, 20 days, 16 hours, and 8 minutes old”, a sure sign of impending doom.

It is in this setting that our main character is nabbed by an immigrants’ rights/terrorist group led by Theo’s ex-wife Julian (Julianne Moore). She asks him to acquire transit papers for Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) and he is convinced to help transport her. When Theo meets the woman he learns that she is pregnant.

This begins a harrowing ride through England to get her to the coast where a supposed ship of scientists who run The Human Project – a top secret [outside the government] group that is thought to be trying to solve the infertility problem – will take her aboard.

Clive Owen is amazing as Theo. We watch the transformation of this hollow man who is

lacking in spirit become a man who is reinvigorated by the shocking discovery of this (possibly) final gift to mankind. This film shows us what Owen could have been like as James Bond, as he was in the running before Daniel Craig got the job. He also displays excellent dramatic range and skill with action scenes. Michael Caine must also be mentioned. He plays Theo’s best friend Jasper, an elderly hippy who lives secluded in the wilderness with his sick wife. His unusual humour and quirkiness brings forth a slight respite from the heavy drama.

This film also displays brilliant creativity and vision. Alfonso Cuaron, best known for his work on the third, and in my opinion the best Harry Potter film – The Prisoner of Azkaban, both wrote the screenplay and directed this beautiful gem. Not only is the world he forms so believable, but he does this with visual flair. Usually I am not overly fond of handheld camera work, but Cuaron puts us right in the middle of the adventure in a more than tolerable way.

One of the many examples of this is a car scene where we watch Theo and Julian play a game with a ping pong ball prior to a violent roadside attack. A new camera design allowed for the camera to swivel 360 degrees both inside and outside of the car and was used to get one long take of over four continuous minutes.

Another gut-wrenching take is where Theo is leading Kee through a firefight. Someone gets shot, which causes blood to land and remain on the screen for quite some time. As the long scene wraps we watch as the crying newborn is being carried out of a building, which stops the fighting. The peaceful seconds tick by, yet it only takes one gunshot to incite man to return to the violence. The use of sound and silence is nothing less than breathtaking.

This masterpiece will have you pondering its intriguing story long after the final credits have begun to roll. The philosophical evolution of its main character, the creative artistry developed by Cuaron and his cinematographer, the realistic action sequences, the dramatic moments and the challenging open-ended finale are something to behold. So do not wait until tomorrow to watch this epic, or you might miss the boat.