We’ve All Been “Taken for Granted”

This is NOT a fantasy film. Rather, it is dystopian from beginning to end.

In a world where hope for the future died when infertility became global, mankind nurtured their inborn desire to "rise up" to a higher calling by investing in causes against the "others". Instead of babies, war and destruction were birthed on all sides.

Children of Men is a 2006 dystopian future film that tells the story of a world where humanity is practically fertile. It deals with a simulated issue of real-world topics such as immigration, human rights, politics, and class conflict.

The miraculous birth of a baby offers a flower of hope for ALL. Except mankind is too occupied with their wars to see it, much less treat it as the precious thing it is. This is the story of one man, played brilliantly by Clive Owen who is pulled unwillingly into protecting that hope by getting that baby and her mother to a safe place against all odds.

Like all great dystopian stories, it draws heavily on societal dynamics to paint a bleak picture of the future. News organizations use fear and the social conflict between the "us" and "them" in order to earn fame, infamy, and advertising revenue. Cyberbullying is the futile act of demeaning another person in an effort to boost oneself. Unconscious bias works to elevate one person over another on an upward, downward, and sideways scale. refusing to think about its results in numbing oneself to your surroundings.

This is one of the British film classics. It's a well-researched film full of controversial topics and what psychological effect of having no more children could bring on society as a whole. The beginning of the film is very slow-burn and rather boring at times because of the overuse of British slang words that may not be understood by the non-British audience.

To keep us moving toward "tomorrow," we must never give up optimism that things will work out in the end. Instead, a tedious two-hour chase is used to provide the clichés of conspiracy theories, "who's the actual enemy?", the visionary freak, and tragic love. Performances by Clive Owen and Clare-Hope Ashitey are the most engaging. With hints at how his character might have once been, Clive successfully creates the improbable hero. Clare-Hope skilfully treads a thin path connected by bravery, faith, and despair. Sorry Michael Caine and Julianne Moore, but the other important characters left me with nothing.

I'm at a loss for words when it comes to how excellent the cinematography was. This movie is a cinematic experience thanks to its amazing moments, magnificent long-take camera shots, and realistic and stressful atmosphere. The strong point runs from midway to the end, which is expertly paced and successfully paves the way for a truly dramatic conclusion. Following the extraordinary effects and stunning sights, the film's appearance is really nicely done. I'd say that in terms of bringing the novel Children of Men to life, the actors truly paved the path and performed a fantastic job.

No sound is out of place in the soundtrack; it is appropriate for the movie and the scenes. While the employment of special effects is nothing new, the long-cut style cinematography successfully conveys the dramatic impression this film wants you to feel. The usage of a silent moment at a crucial scene gives the suspense and emotional climax a powerfully felt feeling.

There is certainly no victory without a price. The ones you love and care for have to pass by. We only have them for a specific role and when they are done, will leave. Everything has a price, this is what I felt throughout the movie.

Each of these dynamics participates in paving the road to the dystopian future of the film. Though this movie was released 14 years ago, it raises situations that are rational today. Such as viruses, immigration problems, pollution, rising infertility in the developed world, etc. So, from that perspective, the premise of this movie alone makes this worth watching & from my point of view, this film is a Dystopian Masterpiece.

I'll give it an 8.5/10 rating because the beginning is rather boring while the middle to the end is perfect for this kind of story. This film is quite foretelling given its release in 2006!

However, the movie is still rather simplistic and lacks some depth. Yet the events that unfold leave you scratching your head. There are many unanswered questions. Even though the film bears signs of a dystopian genre exercise, it’s oddly familiar. Whether that says something about the film or our present situation is up to the viewer.

JPIAns, may this film mirror where you consciously and unconsciously fight against those who are different from you. May it challenge you to focus on the hope of a future where well-being and mutual understanding are the new birth, not the fight for supremacy over another. Whether a willing or unwilling participant to nurture that hope, may we all rise to the occasion that has already been put before us.