Children of Men

Alfonso Cuaron is one of the most interesting directors working today both in his visual imagination and storytelling ability. Radically changing genre with each consecutive film, from the arthouse sex filled road trip that was Yu Tu Mama Tambien, to the mainstream blockbusting of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban he has now set his sights on futuristic gritty sci-fi in Children of Men, a stunning film that will only serve to further his burgeoning reputation. The year is 2027 and for an unknown reason the women on the planet have become infertile. There have been no births in over 18 years and mankind has fallen into disaray. Civil wars rage around the planet, in response Britain shuts its doors, isolating itself. Soon we join hagged ex-activist Leo, marvellously played by Clive Owne who finds hismelf drawn into a mission by his ex-wife of great importance. a task that could challenge the totalitarian governement and bring hope to a desperate nation. Now I'm not going to detail the events of the film here as it is best appreciated with as little knowledge as possible, the plot is compelling and original as is the world Cuaron creates. filmed in the UK he makes the Britain of the future look simultaneously horrible and beautiful. handheld cameras put you right in the thick of the action and the film does a phenomenal job of involving you in the events that unfold and showing you something you have never seen before. Using many inventive techniques Alfonso creates some astounding shots, there are two 10 minute one-take shots in the film that are unmatched in recent memory and so effective in pulling you in and truly affecting you. Visual effects have come on so much that they can be seamlessly integrated even to handheld footage now and it all works together to create a scary realistic nightmare vision of our future. In fact the film can be very dark at times, however there is always a feint light of hope carried throughout that is just kept alight, At times it can be hard to see and some of the imagery is quite shocking and haunting, but there is one sequence at the end that brings stark relief, if only briefly to the gloom and it is all the more powerful for it. The performances are excellent all round and there is very little to fault here. Truly original and powerful this is a wonderfully grounded sci-fi film that is unlike anything else out there. For those of you who have lost faith in the churning mass of sequels and rehashed ideas circling Hollywood at the moment this film comes as a breath of fresh air and a clear reminder of the very best and worst of human nature and the injustices being perpetrated now throughout the world. Unmissable. A stunningly shot, dark and paranoid thriller that pushes the boundaries of realistic sci-fi with a thought-provoking and harrowing tale of humanity at its darkest and the hope that prevails even in such times.