Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Children of Men’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

It has often been said, that children are our future, and there’s a lot merit to that statement. After all, it is children that will eventually inherit the Earth and in turn, control its future and the future of other generations to come, and in many ways, children are also our only real means to immortality. For they carry genetic parts of us with them, and they keep our memory alive as they share stories of us with their children down the line, and all of this makes kids an invaluable resource to say the least, one that we need to invest in, in just about every single way imaginable.
 
Yet, what’s equally incredible about children in general, is the sense of comfort they provide humanity with. For even in our darkest hours, when it seems as though the world is falling to pieces, we see or hear about them doing wondrous and innocent things, or we see young adults taking the reins in an attempt to make the world a better place, something that outright gives us hope that tomorrow will be just fine in their hands. But while we enjoy the sense of stability that comes with knowing that babies are being born every minute of every day, creative minds often want to challenge the things that bring us comfort in order to keep us thinking, and it just so happens that there is a motion picture out there, that outright ponders what our world would look like and what humanity would become if there were no more children being born on Planet Earth, in Children of Men.
 
Now in this particularly disturbing and powerful film we are introduced to man named Theo who lives in London in the year 2028, and the world has undergone some chilling changes in the future. Because for reasons unknown, the fertility rate of mankind has dropped to zero, meaning that at some point, the human race will simply die off and this revelation, has brought out the worst in us. For chaos has broken out in most of the world at the prospect of a slow and quiet end to mankind, and while that chaos may eventually arrive in the United Kingdom as well, Theo simply goes about his days and works to live and enjoy what time he has left. But someone from his past has returned to ask for his help, because Theo has connections that can help a group of rebels who happen to have their hands on the most precious resource left on earth, a pregnant woman, and now Theo will risk life and limb to see this mother-to-be to safety so that she may inspire hope in mankind for the first time in decades…

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​This is a film, that I find myself revisiting often, simply due to the fact that it has so much to say and so much to offer to its viewer. Because this is one of those rare films that examines just about everything one can when it comes to the human condition, and that’s why I enjoy watching it so much because you never quite know what you’ll find when you pop this one in. But while we could spend days focusing on the finer points of this film, for the sake of today’s review, I want to spend some time talking about how this movie explores the power of fear and the wonder of hope because it moves between both of those elements in seamless and powerful fashion. 
 
Obviously, the easier element to focus upon in this film is the power of fear since mankind’s cruelty is unleashed in this story now that everyday life has become a game of survival of the fittest. But there is also a beautiful sense of hope to be found in this story as well, which quite frankly is an unexpected surprise. After all, this is the end for humanity, and day by day the world is falling to pieces, yet something as simple as a single child being born, energizes people like never before and perhaps my favorite scene in the entire film, is the moment when the rebels and the British Army cease fighting and watch in wonder and awe as Theo and the baby slowly exit the building, simply because it shows how one tiny life can change everything and in that moment, the possibilities for the future are downright endless.
 
Of course, the appearance of a child doesn’t end the fighting, but that’s another analysis on man best saved for another day, and really that’s what makes this movie so important and so powerful, the fact that it gets us talking. Because there’s something special for everyone who watches this film to uncover and fawn over, and it’s led to many incredible discussions for me over the years and that’s why I highly recommend you watch this one if you haven’t seen it before. Because it really is that rare think piece that isn’t audacious or pompous, it just has a lot to say about mankind, and the world and what we leave behind and it will stay with you, long after the credits have come to an end…

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