Dystopias provide for unsettling reflections on ourselves and our world.

To what extent is
this idea reflected in you chosen text?
As the world became exposed to periods of war and political unrest, societys belief
in humanity has been conflicted due to the corruption and deprivation that has arisen. This
has resulted in writers to foreshadow a perverted world by further exploring the damaging
effects of such upheavals, labelling the world as a Dystopia. Dystopia refers to a fictional
society whereby the conditions of living are exceedingly low, in many cases due to
oppression, greed and prejudice. Over time, dystopian writers have evolved significantly
from a futuristic world to a world that question upon present-day references to serve as
critiques on contemporary societies and governments. This provides us greater insight upon
the unsettling reflections on our desire to retain our identity in a world depleted from
individuality and the worlds amoral desire for power and control. Such concerns upon
dystopia are thoroughly explored in Alfonso Cuarns 2006 film Children of Men. The film
takes place in Britain in the year 2027, describing the devastation of the world due to
nuclear and environment destruction, whereby women have become infertile. Through
detailed use of the films mise-en-scene to the intertextual referencing present, Children of
Men reveals the dystopian conventions of oppressive governments, and the loss of hope
and faith, leading to a truly unsettling reflection of modern society.
The oppression of a society by its existing political system is an unsettling reflection
that dystopia provides us as the desire to gain control of others will lead to a world
becoming immoral. Today, we are frequently reminded of the overflow of refugees and the
suppressive measures governments take to filter and refuse entry of refugees. Such a notion
is deeply embedded in Children of Men, as the film explores the results of an oppressive
government and features extrapolated present day immigration systems, reminiscent to
that of Nazi Germany. The film opens with a black screen and an urgent voice of a news
reporter is heard saying The Homeland Security Bill is ratified. Although the film is set in
Britain, the mentioning of Homeland Security in this opening sequence links the
description to the socio-political reality of the present-day United States1. The British
government depicted by Cuarn is totalitarian, fascist and anti-immigration. London in 2027
isnt unlike the present day, illustrated through the single long shot of the city scape with
the exterior of buildings being decked with huge video screens broadcasting the news;
electronic signs urging the public to report suspicious activity2. Having closed its borders
for eight years, hunting down illegal immigrants, rounding them up in cages like animals,
and sending them to deportation refugee camps, all of which are seen throughout the film,
suggesting it is a part of everyday life for citizens, the director has purposefully made such
scenes reminiscent of the Jewish Holocaust and Guantanamo Bay detention camps. In
understanding the political oppression of dystopian communities and by representing
1

Amago, S. (2010), Ethics, Aesthetics, and the Future in Alfonso Cuarns Children of Men, Discourse, Wayne
State University Press, Detroit, p. 213-214
2
Conlan, S., Children of Men Study Guide, accessed from www.filmstudies.net on 16/08/2014

historical tragedies in the film, Cuarn emphasises his critique on the bleak atmosphere of
the past, providing a disconcerting warning reflecting on the lack of ethical consideration of
society today.
As a result of a world devoid of morals, humanity will ultimately lose its principles of
hope and faith, revealing a society whereby individuals lack apathy due to overwhelming
futility and despair. The futuristic Britain is a world of desolation and chaos, shown through
the use of grey colour palettes and the frequent close up shots of buildings resolved to
rubble and dead bodies, emphasising the gloominess present. In this dehumanising
community, women have been infertile for eighteen years for unexplained causes, and
Cuarn states, the concept of female infertility is a metaphor for the fading sense of hope3.
The concept of infertility is not new to the science fiction dystopian genre, however
Children of Men portrays a world doomed with the imminent identity of humans.
Professor David P. Barash and his daughter Nanelle R. Barash say dystopian science fiction
demonstrates a denial of biology or humans basic needs4. Through their statement, it can
be inferred that infertility establishes the absence of the sense of purpose, hope and faith in
society. The loss of purpose and motivation results in individuals to give up, as seen when
Theo questions his cousin Nigel the purpose in restoring renowned artworks such as
Michelagos David, What keeps you going? to which Nigel replies I just dont think about
it. Through this conversation, we can see the lack of apathy within individuals and the
absence of individuality in which the characters possess; the sense of hopelessness that has
seeped into peoples mindsets. Furthermore, the film does not present a sense of closure,
leaving the audience questioning the future of Kee and her baby. The vague ending is
explained by Cuarn as a means for the audience to invest their own sense of hope into
that ending a hopeful person will see a lot of hope, a bleak person will see a complete
hopelessness at the end5. As explored, a society void of connectivity and morals will be
directed towards an unsettling implication of the destitution of a unique identity.
In exploring the political oppression and loss of hope in Children of Men, and
portraying the film as a darker account of contemporary society, Cuarn skilfully allows the
audience to perceive themselves in this eerily distorted image of the present world.

Wells, J. (2006), Interview with Alfonso Cuarn, accessed from www.hollywood-elsewhere.com on

12/08/2014
4
Barash, D. & Barash, N. (2004), Biology, Culture, and Persistent Literary Dystopias, The Chronicle of Higher
Education, accessed from www.chronicle.com on 13/08/2014
5
Guerrasio, J. (2006), A New Humanity, Filmmaker Magazine, accessed from www.filmmakermagazine.com
on 16/08/2014

BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Amago, S. (2010), Ethics, Aesthetics, and the Future in Alfonso Cuarns Children of Men,
Discourse, Wayne State University Press, Detroit, p. 213-214
2. Barash, D. & Barash, N. (2004), Biology, Culture, and Persistent Literary Dystopias, The
Chronicle of Higher Education, accessed from www.chronicle.com on 13/08/2014

3. Conlan, S., Children of Men Study Guide, accessed from www.filmstudies.net on

16/08/2014

4. Guerrasio, J. (2006), A New Humanity, Filmmaker Magazine, accessed from

www.filmmakermagazine.com on 16/08/2014

5. Wells, J. (2006), Interview with Alfonso Cuarn, accessed from www.hollywoodelsewhere.com on 12/08/2014