This is the key scenes collage I have created, I believe these are the most significant scenes in Children of Men. By doing this collage I now can specifically identify key scenes from the film. All the key scenes communicate messages. The messages from the key scenes are (in order of pictures in the collage above):
War - The all out war at the end, combined with lots of mass media reports of war throughout the world shows the effects war has had in this futuristic world.
Oppression - The immigrants are kept in over crowded cells and are also beaten, this is very similar to the treatment of Jews in concentration camps.
Terrorism - The bomb set off in the first scene shows the regular terrorist attacks going on in this future dystopia England.
Sorrow - When Julian dies, Theo is very distraught. Sorrow is featured throughout the film with various disasters and deaths occurring and peoples reactions to them.
Human psyche - The news report at the start of the film reports on the youngest person in the world (18 years old) has died. Other events in the film like no child being born in 18 years also shows how people react to various situations.
Religion & Faith - When Theo finds out that Kee is pregnant and that she will be the first person to have a baby in 20 years, he regains his faith and agrees to help her. Religion is also featured as Kee being pregnant is a miracle, also the fact that Kee's pregnancy is unexpected and inconvenient making the pregnancy a religious allegory. This can arguably be compared with the story of Mary's pregnancy in the bible.
Violence - An armed gang shoot and kill Julian, and various times unjustified violence has been committed against people in the film.
Hope - Kee's new born baby signifies there is still hope for the world as know a baby has been born for the first time in 20 years.
Revolution - The group 'The Fishes', who the government say are terrorist kidnap Theo and tell him about their plans and how he is to help them, in which if they succeed will be revolutionary. They are also one of the few to stand up against the government in Children of Men.
Very Good effort, however you have missed one of the most important themes - why it is called children of men and why everyone is shocked to see Kee pregnant
ReplyDeleteDavid you are missing your study proposal for your coursework, be prepared for tomorrow:
ReplyDelete1. A 5 minute presentation on your Study Proposal for your coursework - which films, what points of comparison, what MACRO(s) - (this ought to have been done last week so we are 1 week behind as some people did not come prepared - i.e. do their half term homework...you and I know who you are do not make this mistake this week)
Be prepared to discuss/answer questions on what you have learned since last week about your MACRO area (ie Genre & Narrative)
1st Draft (1000-1500 words) is due in 2 weeks
2. Propaganda poster with slogan that encapsulates a Message/Value from the film V for Vendetta with a background image(s) of key scenes from the film that communicate this message
Be prepared to discuss how it creates this message start of Fridays lesson