Film Discussion Entry - Week 4

Children of Men takes place in Britain almost two decades into the future, in a world where infertility has been universally recurrent for 18 years. With little to no hope remaining for the human race, society is awaiting the inevitable, and appears to be in shambles throughout the planet. Britain imprisons all immigrants and recommends its citizens to report any immigrant activity. Our main character, an alcoholic named Theo Faron, is kidnapped by a group called the Fishes. Theo has a history with the Fishes' leader, Julian; they were previously married and had a child named Dylan, who died from a flu outbreak nearly 20 years before. Theo's life is continuously filled with bad breaks and misfortunes, and although it seems that he acknowledges that, he reluctantly agrees to do a favor for Julian. Theo is offered money to acquire transit papers for a girl named Kee (pictured above). He is able to get transit papers. however they require that he escort her. Once they are en route,  Julian is shot and killed, so Luke (member of the fishes) takes Kee and Theo to a safe house. That night, Kee reveals to Theo that she is pregnant! Theo overhears a conversation between Luke and another Fishes member, in which they admitted to killing Julian in order to use Kee's baby as a pawn in the societies uprising. Theo thus convinces Kee to abandon the safe house and accompany him in his quest to bring her to the 'Human Project' a group committed to curing infertility.
Kee and Theo escape to Theo's friends private hidden home, but when the Fishes subsequently uncover the lair, they are forced to flee that safe house as well. They watch in disgust as Jasper, Theo's friend is shot to death by the Fishes. Without a choice, they run away to a school to meet Sid, a friend of Jasper's who will help Kee and Theo break into Bexhill, a detention facility for immigrants, in order to get close enough to the Human Project's boat. Bexhill seemingly incorporates every possible aspect of the word dystopia. Extremely terrible living conditions, paired with copious amounts of violence. It seems as though this world has suffered tremendously in various ways due to the cessation of reproduction, mentally, physically and spiritually. Until meeting Kee, it seems as though every character in this film has no hope.
Furthermore, Miriam, the woman who cared for Kee, was detained by an officer and taken off the bus while Kee and Theo remained on. That night, Theo helps Kee give birth to a girl. Sid finds Kee and Theo but they manage to fight him off and escape. The Fishes capture them, but are under heavy fire from nearby military officials. Theo and Kee are separated, but Theo manages to find Kee in a building. Theo helps Kee walk out of the building, while spectators all try to catch a glimpse of the miracle that is Kee's baby girl. Even the military officials cease fire to witness the living wonder. Theo and Kee are able to get to the boat and he paddles them to a buoy where they await the boat of the Human Project. They then witness the bombing of Bexhill by military jets. Theo gradually dies from a gunshot wound right before the boat appears in the distance. (One of the most moving scenes of the film;
Pictured below: Soldiers cease fire to witness Kee and her baby) The article Film Form and Narrative says the following: "Art cinema also tends to avoid closed endings, favouring instead a sense of irrevolution and indecision. Many art films give the impression that they have 'stopped' rather than 'ended' - that the plot has ceased to dramatize rather than resolve the story's dilemmas." This quote is very applicable to the film Children of Men, regardless if one considers the film to be a sector of art cinema. Once Kee does in fact makes it to the Human Project, the film fades out, meaning we, the audience, never find out how humanity faired after Kee's miracle.

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Blade Runner takes place in 2019 in Los Angeles. Released in 1982, this film depicts society with a very appalling appearance. We are told from the opening credits, that Tyrell Corporation has advanced scientific technology on robots to the point where they are equal in intelligence and superior when it comes to strength and agility. Replicants, as these robots are called, could be particularly dangerous, and were deemed illegal on Earth. Special forces called Blade Runner Units were told to kill any replicants they find. "This was not called execution - It was called retirement". From the opening scene, the audience is already informed that killing in this society is a necessity in order to maintain a higher order of balance, thus making death something that may not come as a major shock to its citizens. 

As one could tell from the view of this supposed beautiful 'skyline', this society has a very grim and depressing outlook. We later understand that 6 replicants, 4 currently alive, escaped an Off-World colony and made their way to Earth. Rick Deckard, is tracked down and asked to return to performing his duties as a member of the Blade Runner. He scrutinized the Tyrell Corporation, and then proceeded to investigate the hotel room of one of the proposed replicants, named Leon. He finds a piece of snake skin and is led to a strip club where he encounters Zhora, another replicant. Deckard then shoots her multiple times, killing her instantly. Leon finds Deckard moments later, and Rick mishandles his gun while Leon and him continue fighting. Rachel, the assistant to Mr. Tyrell (Rachel was also perceived by Deckard to be a replicant), picks up Deckard's gun and shoots Leon. Deckard later assures Rachel he will not kill her due to the fact she saved his life.

Roy, the third of the escaped replicants, goes to Tyrell to ask for a longer lifespan, to which Tyrell replies that it can not be done. Roy kills him. 

Meanwhile, Deckard goes to investigate the apartment of Sebastian, a man who works with Tyrell; Sebastian actually 'took in' the fourth replicant (named Pris) because she made him believe she was a homeless orphan. Pris attacks Deckard, but Deckard is able to 'retire' her. Deckard is chased by Roy until they end up on the roof, where Deckard slips but manages to hold a grip to avoid falling. Roy then saves Deckard, but dies slowly due to his lifespan ending. Rick returns to find Rachel asleep, waiting for him.