People are using the word “apocalyptic” a lot lately. It’s probably because a xenophobic, racist, sexist, white supremacist has been elected president of the Free World, and everybody’s freakin’ out. But no matter where your politics stand (I think it’s clear where mine do, but I don’t want to proselytize), Alfonso Cuarón’s “Children of Men” is both relevant and worthwhile. The film demonstrates what a true apocalypse might look like, sans zombies, nuclear warfare or rapidly spreading infectious disease.
Set in Britain, the story details the condition of our world in the year 2027, when the youngest person on the planet has recently died and women are no longer capable of having children. No reason for this international case of infertility is ever given. The world Cuarón presents as our future is gray in color, claustrophobic and covered in graffiti, not to mention rife with chaos, death and scant signs of hope on the news. Things have gotten so bad the government finds it prudent to hand out “suicide kits” and regular rations of anti-depressants.
Theo (Clive Owen) is the story’s reluctant hero, both ruggedly handsome and pissed off. His ex-wife, Julian (Julianne Moore, whose red hair is the brightest color in the movie) is a political activist who enlists Theo to smuggle a young refugee named Kee toward the elusive “coast.” This mission is of the utmost importance because – spoiler alert! – miracle of miracles, Kee is pregnant. Kee and Theo must meet up with a mysterious entity called “The Human Project,” who we assume will treat Kee kindly and protect her from those who wish to use the baby for “political purposes.”
In a world where no one is trustworthy, flooded with corruption and violence, a new baby signifies the much-needed reemergence of innocence and optimism. At one point, we watch Kee sitting alone on the swing set of a deserted playground outside some elementary school with broken windows. A world missing the sound of children’s play is a pretty pathetic one to behold. It’s a noise you might not relish until it’s gone.
“Children of Men” won critical acclaim for its incredible single-shot chase sequences. There is constant gunfire, rioting, screaming and rarely a quiet moment to be had – save for in the presence of a wonderful character named Jasper (Michael Caine, playing the role based on John Lennon), the only one unaffected by the surrounding madness. He resides in a woodsy cottage filled with all the things that still make life worth living: books, cats, music and marijuana. If I were stuck at the end of the world, I’d want to end up like this guy. I’m guessing most Durangoans would.
Anya Jaremko-GreenwoldDGO Staff Writer
