by Peter Ruzzo

Created on: November 22, 2009   Last Updated: November 23, 2009

Children of Men effectively places the viewer into a state of sublime denial. The realism and post-apocalyptic themes addressed in the movie become both plausibly deniable and eerily relevant to the human condition. The ghettoization of thousands of displaced and undesirable minorities smacks of political nihilism not far removed from current political debate on immigration and the previous century's disastrous genocidal policies of Turkey, NAZI Germany, Bosnia and Rwanda. All too frequently does the viewer question the humanity of man in Children as they are exposed to antagonists and characters that show little regard for themselves and other humans.

The director effectively uses settings to tell the story. In the opening sequence London becomes a post modern terrorist zone when a bomb explodes in a cafe temporarily immobilizing the protagonist played by Clive Owen (Theo). Owen is then confronted by a group of political activists who share similarities with contemporary radical activist groups. They operate in the underbelly of London and they are led by the always intense Julianne Moore. Owen, hesitantly, accepts his mission after a past love, played by Julianne Moore, prematurely dies in a terrorist attack in the idyllic countryside.

The countryside offers a stark contrast to the city but plays a vital role in creating no safe haven for the viewer to escape the chaos of the city. In the country Owen's character meets a much maligned but benevolent pothead played by Michael Caine (Jasper). He and his wife have repudiated the trappings of modern life as they wrestle with their past nightmares. Caine's character brings a sense of purpose to Owen's mission as he reprises his pedantic but self destructive character professor in Educating Rita. Caine is brilliant as a figure who's job it is to encourage Owen into accepting his mission with humor and urgency. Throughout the scenes with Caine and Owen a melancholic, Indie version of a Beatles song plays hauntingly in the background.

Paradoxically what makes the movie worthy is its poignant attention to what makes us human. Humanity is facing its certain death. The fact that our species must promulgate itself to survive bears light on the basic and fundamental need for pregnancy, birth and nurturing as part of the human condition. When this becomes deprived from the human experience because of a virus that affects women man turns on himself. An underlying theme of the movie is a strong anti-immigrant sentiment exhibited by the British government. When a young girl, a Caribbean refugee, is discovered to be with child she becomes the sole concern of Owen as he tries to deliver her to scientist on the coast. Owen's daunting mission takes on a life of its own as he attempts to get the girl to a group of scientist who live on a ship. Owen and the girl are thrust into the ghetto where the immigrants (refugees) have been rounded up for deportation. There they find a harsh reality as they try to fight off British soldiers and terrorists who have another agenda for the girl.

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