Children of Men Review

Overall Rating

Amazing direction/very atmospheric

Script is rather weak

I have not read the book, nevertheless I was quickly impressed and gripped by the film from the moment go. It portrays a bleak near-future in Britain, where the state is run by an 'Orwellesque' totalitarian and ruthless regime. There is a huge refugee problem and poverty is commonplace. More importantly, there is a world-wide infertility problem since children cannot be conceived any more. The basic plot-line involves the main hero (a disgruntled civil servant) trying to help a wanted refugee girl escape Britain. The girl is co-incidentally pregnant, a rather miraculous event in the circumstances. The authorities as well as a militant underground movement hound the hero and his protege all the way. The director has done a tremendous job in presenting a familiar yet subtly different Britain. The camera work is superb and photography is splendid. The acting is decent and we get solid performances from Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine amongst others. Unfortunately, the script is rather weak, especially with its ending. Nevertheless, this film is worth a see, solely for the excellent implementation of the future it portrays and the atmosphere it creates.