Children of Men
Children of Men is the most powerful new film I’ve seen in years. It’s based on the book (of the same title) by British novelist P.D. James. James, a Christian, says of her book:
“When I began The Children of Men, I didn’t set out to write a Christian book. I set out to deal with the idea I had. What would happen to society with the end of the human race? At the end of it, I realized I had written a Christian fable. It was quite a traumatic book to write.”
Let me add to that: the film was, likewise, quite a traumatic film to watch.
I mean it. I’ve never experienced more stress while watching a film then while watching this story unfold. Halfway through the film I realized this. I thought, “hey, I’m stressed out here, I’m tense and even a tad bit sweaty, what’s going on?” What was going on was that I was engrossed in this traumatic, stressful, and richly redemptive storyline.
See, all the depravity, trauma, violence, and stress that color the film serve, ultimately, to highlight themes of redemption, hope, substitution, and incarnation. And all these themes are concentrated into one character–a baby. Indeed, the world’s only hope for redemption rests with this little baby. In one of the most moving cinematic scenes I’ve ever seen (I don’t think this is giving away too much), all the chaos and violence of man comes to an abrupt, momentary standstill when it encounters this special child. Moving, moving, moving.
I hope many of you choose to see this movie. Be warned: the R rating is deserved.
PS. his film also offers an excellent pro-life argument.
Mike and I just saw that movie. Unreal. I wanted to retreat underneath my covers and never come out. hahaha. Great movie though.
I had the exact same reaction. There is a point in the film, relatively earlier on, where something happens that is completely unexpected and from there on out I just wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. I was blown away by this movie. Its the best Sci-Fi movie since Gattaca.
funnny…having read the book last year i was actually pretty let down by the movie. it is a marvelous film, i just think the story told in the book highlighted the themes of “redemption, hope, salvation, substitution, and incarnation” so much better.
after watching the movie i wished i had watched the movie and then read the book. that’s my recommendation for you mr. buzzard!
Yes, I agree. Powerful. I actually used Children of Men in class today to illustrate how the Incarnation is the eucatastrophe (i.e. a catastrophe with a sudden, unexpected turn for joy) of man’s history. Excellent movie.
