safe

A Dystopian Mirror: Exploring the Enduring Relevance of Children of Men

Timeless Fears Made Flesh: The Film’s Gripping Portrayal of Societal Collapse

In a time of rampant xenophobia, economic instability, devastating climate disasters, ever-mutating viruses, and a general feeling of hopelessness throughout the globe, Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men (the director’s follow-up to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) feels more relevant than ever before. As Mark Fergus — one of the project’s five credited, Oscar-nominated screenwriters, who recently spoke with Morningpicker about the film — notes, “It’s taken a couple of decades for the movie to fully be understood.” Based on the 1992 novel of the same name by author P.D. James, the 2006 film (now available to own from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment) imagines a not-too-distant dystopian future where humans have mysteriously lost the ability to procreate. With no new generation to carry on the torch and inspire hope, civilization has begun to slowly eat itself alive. The only stable nation left standing is the United Kingdom, which stays afloat by heavily suppressing rebellious dissent, while scapegoating immigrant refugees (known as “Sojourners” in the book and “Fugees” in the film).

“The world is starting to catch up to that,” adds Fergus, whose other credits include the first Iron Man movie and Cowboys & Aliens. “We’re heading for some kind of fulcrum moment where it’s all gonna change. It feels like we’re heading for an abyss … The movie tapped into that long before people were as uncomfortable as they feel today.” The billion-dollar question is what catastrophe (or set of catastrophes) will end up being humanity’s ultimate undoing? Climate change? Nuclear war? Disease? A meteor from the darkest regions of outer space? Take your pick. Children of Men works so well because its gritty vision of a slow-burning apocalypse drills down to the very core of what extinction means for us as a species, especially if we continue on the current self-made decline we’ve made for ourselves.

“The infertility is just one version of disaster,” Fergus explains. “There’s many versions, but it feels almost like a metaphor. Insert whatever fear you want to about the future of humanity, and it works on that level.” He continues: “I find that this movie has really touched people in a deep way [to the point where] they keep talking about it. It is very accessible, but it’s not your typical movie experience in terms of popcorn fun, light and jolly. It gets under the skin. The first time I saw it at the Writers’ Guild, nobody was speaking after. They were all walking around the lobby kind of shell-shocked. And I was like, ‘Oh, f*, that’s awesome. Nobody knows what to say.’ I took that as a really powerful sign that they were still trying to process it. That was a really cool way to experience the first effect of that film on an audience.”

Unveiling the Darkness: An Interview with Mark Fergus

At the end of the day, however, Fergus sees Children of Men not as some nihilistic portent of things to come, but as an optimistic fable, the lesson being that you’ve “got to find the hope in all the darkness,” emphasizes the screenwriter. “Because otherwise, it’s very hard to get up in the morning. If we act with some sense of purpose or we just get up and refuse to submit to darkness, then we have a chance. We’ll find a path, or we will die trying. That is really what the movie is ultimately about … It’s an incredibly hopeful movie.”

Why did humans become infertile in Children of Men? Theo Faron (Clive Owen) appears on Children of Men (2006). Photo: Universal Pictures

While the film’s crucial plot point is never fully explained, Fergus and his longtime writing partner, Hawk Ostby, did write “a lot of backstory” in their final draft, which convinced Cuarón to sign on as director in the first place. This backstory didn’t just cover humanity’s inability to make babies, but also the life of Baby Diego and the Ark of the Arts. Most, if not all, of their exposition building out the world gradually fell by the wayside in subsequent versions of the script.

“We had a whole backstory about the virus,” Fergus reveals. “It was a really interesting, kind of a slow-moving, almost genetic-mutation-type situation. We had a whole idea about how it was connected to the Ark of the Arts, which was this library of books and art from around the world. It was like a metaphor for the loss of humanity’s cultural heritage. I think Alfonso wanted to keep it more ambiguous, which I respect.”

The Power of Ambiguity

The choice to leave certain elements of the film’s world unexplained was a deliberate one, according to Fergus. “I think Alfonso felt that the real power of the movie was in the ambiguity. It allowed people to fill in the blanks themselves and come to their own conclusions about what was happening. I think that’s what makes the movie so powerful and enduring. It’s not just a story about infertility; it’s a story about hope, despair, and the human condition.”

Leaving audiences with unanswered questions can create a sense of unease and encourage deeper reflection. This approach resonates with the film’s themes of uncertainty and the fragility of civilization.

Hope in the Darkness

Despite the bleakness of the world depicted in Children of Men, Fergus believes that the film ultimately offers a message of hope. “I think the movie is about the resilience of the human spirit,” he says. “Even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. There is always something worth fighting for. Theo’s journey is a testament to that. He starts out as a cynical, disillusioned man, but he finds a purpose in helping Kee protect the baby. That gives him hope. And I think that’s what the movie is ultimately about: finding hope even in the midst of despair.”

Beyond the Screen: Children of Men and the Real World

A Call to Action

The anxieties depicted in Children of Men resonate deeply with contemporary concerns about climate change, social justice, and global instability. The film can serve as a call to action, prompting viewers to engage with these issues and work towards creating a more sustainable and equitable future.

A Reflection of Reality

While Children of Men is a work of fiction, it reflects disturbing trends in the real world. The film’s portrayal of societal collapse, scapegoating of minorities, and the erosion of democratic values offer a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of unchecked power, apathy, and fear.

Finding Meaning in the Dystopia

Despite its bleak setting, Children of Men ultimately offers a message of hope. The film reminds us that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can endure. It encourages viewers to find meaning and purpose in their own lives, to fight for what they believe in, and to never give up hope for a better future.