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The Children of Men 20 November 06

Section: article

Categories: Film / in-a-cinema

Without giving away much of the story, below are a few things that stand out for me in this surprisingly elegant, simple and progressive film, which takes place in the U.K. in the year 2027, after no children have been born for a period of 18 years:

The film’s story plays out in a state of social turmoil, confusion and environmental devastation which is potentially not too far down the road from the present time. It shows a more militaristic form of the so-called homeland security (the term is used) laws that are already in place in the U.S. and which the U.K. has been striving to copy in the last few years. The confusion is interesting because it seems to show a society taken by surprise after a long, incremental slide towards oppressive measures which finally tipped the scales into more openly fascistic conditions. “They” are doing that right now, implementing increasingly restrictive, oppressive measures in stages.

One part of the confusion in the film’s world is the factional fighting among the resistance, which is preparing for an uprising. The role of the antagonist in the story shifts to the “bad guys” among the underground, pushing the real perpetrators, the establishment, somewhat into the background.

In its portrayal of two potential futures, the film reminds me of one of my favorite books, Woman on the Edge of Time, by Marge Piercy, which I’ve read a couple of times and now feel like reading again.

P. D. James, the author

The Children of Men is based on a novel by the detective novelist P.D. James →. The following quote from her wikipedia → entry explains the film’s sense of the banal evil of governmental bureaucracy:

Many of James’ mystery novels take place against the backdrop of Britain’s vast bureaucracies such as the criminal justice system and the health services, arenas in which James honed her skills for decades starting in the 1940s when she went to work in hospital administration to help support her ailing husband and two children. Two years after the publication of Cover Her Face, James’ husband died and she took a position as a civil servant within the criminal section of the Department of Home Affairs. James worked in government service until her retirement in 1979, and her many years of experience within these bureaucracies add a complex stratum of insider’s knowledge to her writing. Her 2001 work, Death in Holy Orders, displays an insightful grasp of the inner workings of church hierarchy.

Bring On The Lucie (Freeda People) by John Lennon (final credit music)

We don’t care what flag you’re waving
We don’t even want to know your name
We don’t care where you’re from or where you’re going
All we know is that you came
You’re making all our decisions
We have just one request of you
That while you’re thinking things over
Here’s something you just better do

Free the people now
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now
Free the people now
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now

Well we were caught with our hands in the air
Don’t despair paranoia is everywhere
We can shake it with love when we’re scared
So let’s shout it aloud like a prayer

Free the people now
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now
Free the people now
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now

We understand your paranoia
But we don’t want to play your game
You think you’re cool and know what you are doing
666 is your name
So while you’re jerking off each other
You better bear this thought in mind
Your time is up you better know it
But maybe you don’t read the signs

Free the people now
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now
Free the people now
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now

Well you were caught with your hands in the TILL
And you still got to swallow your pill
As you slip and you slide down the hill
On the blood of the people you killed

Stop the killing (Free the people now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now
Stop the killing (Free the people now)
Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now

Bring on the lucie

  • Title: The Children of Men
  • Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
  • Writing credits: P. D. James
  • Starring: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, Chiwetel Ejiorfor, Charlie Hunnam, Claire-Hope Ashitey, Pam Ferris, Danny Huston, Peter Mullan...
  • Year: 2006
  • Cinema: Turm Kino, Frankfurt, Germany