Analysis FM

Host: Welcome to Analysis FM where we over analyze brilliant stories, i'm your host
Richard Blythe and i'm here with Jed Krishanovski - A mute critic to talk about Children
of men and how it reflects the significance of human experience

Host: Say hi to the listeners Jed

Jed (in sign language): Hello listeners and thank you for having me on Richard. Most
podcast hosts wouldn't give me this opportunity.

Host: haha, no worries Jed, and please, call me Dick. Now let's get down to it.

Jed (in sign language): Certainly

Host: You were saying that Children of men is a narrative that reflects the significance
of human experiences.

Jed (in sign language) : Yes

Host: Great. How so?

Jed (in sign language) : Children of men is the story of an emotionally damaged man
who has lost his life's spark in a seemingly willingly ignorant world to blind to do what's
necessary to make a positive difference.

Host: So, effectively what you’re trying to say is that Theo, the protagonist of Children
of men is constantly healed and broken down by his connections

Jed (in sign language) : I suppose that is a very specific way of saying it. It kind of
misses the point really.

Host: Care to elaborate?

Jed (in sign language, cut off and ignored): Well, Theo starts off the film a damaged
man, blank in expression and uncaring of the world around him, he himself trying to
distract his mind with alcohol. Pouring it into his coffee and-
Host: So what you’re trying to say is that through viewing the story of Children of men,
Audiences are provided great examples of connections dual nature as well as
loneliness being about more than just feeling socially isolated.

Jed (in sign language) : umm

Host: hm, yes and we see the absence of connection woven into the mise-en-scene, for
example, The city which is full of hate, anger, pain and mundanity everything is washed
out in its colour palette. It is later revealed to us that the city constantly reminds him of
his broken family and dead son, two connections of great significance now broken, their
absence leaving great pain. To deal with his pain Theo usually has a cigarette or drink in
his hand and his long, dark jacket on. Theos thick, heavy, dark jacket that he is always
wearing is almost like armour, when he puts it on he also puts on a persona of
indifference. Like he’s trying to convince himself nothing emotional is going to get to
him. The alcohol and cigarettes show us that this is merely a facade.

Jed (in sign language): What?

Host: The only time Theo does shed his jacket and his persona of indifference is when
he is with someone he connects with positively.

Jed (in sign language) : Am I not meant to be the one speaking about what I think?

Host: Is there a problem?

Jed (in sign language): Well, you’re not letting me talk and say what’s in my mind.
Some of what you’re saying is true but you’re backing it up with some really bizarre
evidence

Host: Remove him

Jed (in sign language) : No! What are you doing?

Scuffle.

Host: just get him out (disappointed)

Door closes
Host: Far out, as I was saying, when Theo connects with people positively his entire
characterisation changes for example, towards the beginning of the movie Theo catches
up with an old friend Jasper and we see Theo shed his jacket and his unphased
persona and we observe the release of tension through humour, eating good food,
sharing some recreational drugs and talking about life. It’s first time we see a smile and
hear laughter, which is a great indicator of the significance of connection and its ability
to heal.

Host: looks like we got a break, we’ll be right back talking about loneliness

Break

Host: honestly, I think I’m going to need a pay rise. This is ridiculous

Producer: (whispering) we’re back

Host: oh, right, right, as I was saying loneliness being more than just socially isolated.

Host: Theo, lives in deep regret, feeling like he had an opportunity to be for something
greater, however, when he lost his son and his relationship with his wife he felt like he
had failed as a carer. This regret bound him up and repressed him, leaving him cynical
and tired, even when talking to his friend Jasper who has a profoundly positive impact
on him “even if they discovered the cure for infertility doesn't matter. Too late. World
went to shit. You know what, it was to late before the infertility thing for fucks sake” the
truncation emphasises Theos utterly defeatist attitude.

Theo regains his sense of purpose when he becomes the only person Kee, and later
her child Dylan, can trust. He gets another shot at redemption, he is given hope for the
future, and even an opportunity to carry on what his dead wife was so dedicated to. To
give hope another chance. And he is willing to put everything on the line because the
purpose he is fulfilling is greater than him. We see this especially towards the end of the
journey, passing through a massive refugee camp overrun with violence in order to get
Kee to the safety of a rebel evacuation. Theo trades his last cigarettes to rent out a
filthy, rundown shack to get Kee a sheltered place to give birth. Theo lays his jacket
down for the child to be birthed onto and to protect it from the germs, he pours the
alcohol from his flask to disinfect his hands. The symbolism of this sequence of events
makes it one of, if not the most significant moments of the film. The child is a new
opportunity for hope, a new start, redemption. What Theo has wanted from the
beginning, a reason greater than himself. Him laying down his jacket, sacrificing his pain
blockers for the occasion shows the significance of this moment to Theo, because it’s
for something greater than him. And so at the end when he finally bleeds out from a
gunshot wound, he is the least lonely he has been in a long time.

Speaking of time, ours is up. Cherio