Somehow even more relevant today than it was in 2006, "Children of Men" depicts a bombed-out London, under fascist rule and full of internment camps, all stemming from a plague of infertility.
It's a dystopian nightmare that yields an ounce of hope in the form of a pregnant woman and her perilous road to safety. The source of the crisis is never explained, but it just feels too plausible not to get under your skin.
And Alfonso Cuarón has a knack for doing just that. The acting in this movie is excellent, but the direction is superb. Cuarón thrives on heart-pounding long takes and, done poorly, the camera work would come off as gimmicky; instead, it just adds to the unbelievable tension.
Fair warning: you'll grow to like various characters and you will be gutted by what happens to them. It's a beautiful and painful experience, but also deeply human.
It's a dystopian nightmare that yields an ounce of hope in the form of a pregnant woman and her perilous road to safety. The source of the crisis is never explained, but it just feels too plausible not to get under your skin.
And Alfonso Cuarón has a knack for doing just that. The acting in this movie is excellent, but the direction is superb. Cuarón thrives on heart-pounding long takes and, done poorly, the camera work would come off as gimmicky; instead, it just adds to the unbelievable tension.
Fair warning: you'll grow to like various characters and you will be gutted by what happens to them. It's a beautiful and painful experience, but also deeply human.