Children of Men (2006)
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In a world where human infertility has brought civilization to the brink of collapse, a cynical bureaucrat must protect the only pregnant woman on Earth.
The story
In the year 2027, the world is gripped by a global crisis of total human infertility, leading to widespread war and societal decay. The United Kingdom has transformed into a totalitarian state where refugees are detained and oppressed. Theo Faron, a disillusioned bureaucrat, becomes entangled in a dangerous mission to escort Kee, a young refugee woman, through a landscape of violence and government crackdowns. As they navigate a crumbling infrastructure and face threats from both militant groups and state forces, Theo must protect Kee, who carries the weight of the world's only hope for the future of the human race.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2027, a global infertility crisis has pushed humanity toward extinction. Theo Faron, a cynical bureaucrat, is recruited by a militant group to escort Kee, a refugee who is miraculously pregnant. They flee through a decaying London and into the countryside, pursued by the 'Fishes' and government forces. After a series of violent encounters and the loss of several allies, they reach a coastal area near a high-security detention center. Amidst a chaotic battle involving soldiers and militants, Theo manages to get Kee and her baby to a boat. The film ends with them reaching a rendezvous point as the sound of children's laughter is heard, suggesting a glimmer of hope for the future.
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 109
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Alfonso Cuarón
- Writers
- Alfonso Cuarón · screenplay; Timothy J. Sexton · screenplay; David Arata · screenplay; Mark Fergus · screenplay; Hawk Ostby · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Clive Owen · Thelonius "Theo" Faron; Julianne Moore · Julian Taylor; Michael Caine · Jasper Palmer; Pam Ferris · Miriam; Chiwetel Ejiofor · Luke; Charlie Hunnam · Patric; Peter Mullan · Syd; Oana Pellea · Marichka
- Genres
- dystopian; action; thriller
- Themes
- hope and faith; religion; humanity's survival
- Premise and plot tags
- dystopian; action; thriller; science fiction; refugee crisis
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Children of Men by P. D. James (1992)
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim and was praised for its cinematography, score, and innovative action sequences. It was widely lauded as one of the best dystopian films of the 21st century.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 92% · scale: percentage · review count: 252; Metacritic · score: 84 · scale: 100 · review count: 38
- Awards and nominations
- BAFTA · Cinematography · win; BAFTA · Production Design · win; Academy Award · Best Adapted Screenplay · nomination; Academy Award · Best Cinematography · nomination; Academy Award · Best Film Editing · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's production was impacted by the 2011 London bombings, but the director chose to stay in London.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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