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Venice diary - 'Children of Men' review
Dave Calhoun looks at Alfonso Cuaron's gripping adaptation of the P D James' sci-fi novel.
Sep 4 2006
It's fitting that Alfonso Cuaron's new film, 'Children of Men' should have its world premiere in Venice in the same week that a major celebration of new Mexican cinema opens at London's National Film Theatre. Cuaron's latest film - an adaptation of P D James' sci-fi novel - is testament to the growing influence of Mexico on current world cinema. Together with fellow director Alejandro Gonzalaz Inarritu ('21 Grams', 'Babel'), screenwriter Guillermo Arriega ('The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada') and actor Gael Garcia Bernal, Cuaron is both revitalising the domestic Mexican industry with films such as 'Y Tu Mama Tambien' and injecting new spirit into English-language film with Hollywood-produced fare such as this latest movie.
Cuaron's first film since 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' doesn't disappoint. 'Children of Men' is a clever vision of London in 2027 - an unhappy, paranoid and claustrophobic time when Britain is the only surviving nation in the world and a fertility crisis means that no new babies have been born for eighteen years. A rebel outfit of guerilla refugees (or 'fugees') known as The Fish loom threateningly in the background and the Department of Homeland Security have been ordered to arrest all illegal immigrants, cage them and propel them to the fortified compound of Bexhill-on-Sea. Never has the familliar name of a Kentish seaside town sounded so sinister. It hardly needs saying the focus on migrancy has an uneasy potency.
It's a film which easily could have been ridiculous. In Cuaron's hands, it emerges as quite some achievement, both technically (look out for the one-shot take that graces a battle scene late on) and dramatically (the script and performances are tight and credible; even Michael Caine is amusing as a cardigan-wearing, pot-smoking, Roots Manuva-listening old sage). Considering that P D James' plot is so far-fetched, it's all the more impressive that Cuaron's unhappy vision of the future is convincing. Its his boldness that makes it work. He doesn't bother with easy explanations or back story; he plunges straight into the action, shooting in an unfussy, in-your-face style and employing only the most necessary of special effects.
His prognosis of the future is gripping from the off; civil servant Theo (Clive Owen) is buying a coffee in the Square Mile when he notices a news report on TV. The newreader (a face recognisbale from television today) announces that the world's youngest person, 18-year-old Diego has died in a street brawl. It's major news. The public weep. Theo asks for a day off to recover. And it's no leap of the imagnation to connect the reaction to Diego's demise with the outpouring that greeted the death of another celebrity with a similar-sounding name back in 1997. When Owen finds himself unwitting guardian to the only pregant woman on earth, a Messianic tone infects the film, but Cuaron wisely backs off from stressing the Biblical overtones too much; at one point he pointedly pulls the needle off a choral number on the soundtrack in order to return to violent conflict.
One of the film's more striking features is that London in 2027 doesn't look so different from today's city. The red buses are more old and tatty, which contrasts nicely which the usual chrome-and-cream furnishings of the future. It still rains incessantly and the city's buildings remain grey - only many are now adorned with moving-image advertising. It's the creepy familiarlity which makes Cuaron's film so gripping and often terrifying.
User comments on this story
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- Paolo S said...
- This film makes a good effort to speak out against Western capitalism, however goes about it in the wrong way. It makes the mistake of trying to make the audience sympathise with the characters, which allows them to become emotionally involved and obscures the messages with cinematic story. Although, if you can remain objective, it is a very meaningful film. Posted on Feb 15 2008 13:53
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- Jon Cowley said...
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Bexhills in Sussex not Kent. I lived there for 18 years and believe me, its worse in real life. Blue rinse everywhere.
Film was pretty average and its never necessary to shoot Michael Caine even if he was a smelly hippy Posted on Feb 12 2007 17:22 - Report as inappropriate
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- robyn said...
- I have read the book. This made it difficult to really get into this movie. The film bears little resemblance to the wonderful P.D. James novel. Nevertheless, it had its moments. *** (out of 5) Posted on Jan 25 2007 18:12
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- Sonia Baker said...
- I am glad to know that I am not the only person in the world that did not like this film. It got 96% I was looking forward to a fantastic film, but walked away disappointed. I can't say that I would recommend it to any of my friends. Posted on Jan 23 2007 17:29
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- belle said...
- This is the best movie i have seen on the big screen in years. it is beautifully shot and resonates with the zeitgeist of today. Posted on Jan 13 2007 17:40
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- michael said...
- the movie came out in south florida where i live yesterday. the film was created very well and the acting was perfect. I was just left wondering about what came before the point where the film started. What caused the pandemic?, what caused worldwideinfertility? etc. Regardless the film was great Posted on Jan 06 2007 08:46
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- lesley said...
- Do you not think that Julianne Moore looks stunning in that blue cardigan she has on in the film. Posted on Oct 07 2006 13:43
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- simon pawlin said...
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Wow wow wow.
I am the hardest person to please at the cinema....and I only went to see this film because I was out-voted by my mates. But i have to confess this film blew me away......!!!!!
I have not been this surprised and amazed at a film since I accidently saw 'Leon' a few years back
amazing action....fantastic acting and some of the best one-shot film work I have ever seen!!!
again...wow wow wow Posted on Oct 06 2006 00:36 - Report as inappropriate
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- Matt Wright said...
- I lost it on the first scene when St Pauls could be seen at the end of the same street Westminster Abbey could be seen on. Recovering from that I settled down to watch it. Although the plot was a bit out that was probably the book. Thought the acting was great especially Charlie Hunnam singing Irish Nationalist songs as he was going to shoot clive dunn. Wondered whether that was acting or hed learnt them in tyneside as a boy (still prefered him in Queer as Folk). Thought it was strange that the only baby in the world should be left floating on the sea outside of bexhill on sea. Ive seen worse. Acting was Alright though. Posted on Sep 28 2006 15:20
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- josh said...
- ignore the naysayers, this is a truly great film. also - the trailer is awful and doesnt reflect the tense (and at times brutal) human drama throughout. and look out for the long-shot battle scene towards the end - puts shame even to the beach attack is saving private ryan. a poignant and scathing look at our society and what we could so easily become. Posted on Sep 28 2006 00:30
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- EL said...
- Dire. Walked out. Posted on Sep 27 2006 23:22
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- Andrew said...
- Stressful and depressing, engrossing, vivid and almost totally convincing. This is a remarkable roller-coaster, which I will watch again. Posted on Sep 24 2006 20:55
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- Ronnie said...
- I saw the film tonight and found it totally gripping and unpredictable. Easily, the best film I have seen this year and I have seen 40 so far. The performances and cinematography are excellent. Posted on Sep 23 2006 23:31
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- glen lewis said...
- Utter twaddle; frequently laughable. Some pain relief provided by the shooting of the main 'stars'. It'll probably appeal to anoraks and conspiracy theorists - of which there are plenty. What a waste of dosh ! Posted on Sep 22 2006 20:23
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- Steve D said...
- Saw it last night. Watch it it's brilliant. Posted on Sep 21 2006 11:24
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