Children Of Men Essay

How effectively does the opening sequence of 'Children Of Men' use forms and conventions of film openings? What is your personal response as a member of the audience?

Children of men is a thriller/science fiction film and was released in 2006. The film was directed by Alfonso Cuaron and is adapted from P.D James's 1992 novel.

First of all, the screen is kept black while the voiceover starts. This makes it clear that Alfonso Cuaron wants the viewers attention to the information given to us by the news reporter on the voiceover. The screen is kept black so the viewers full attention is on the voiceover. It is made clear by the news reporters, that the film is set in Britain as their accents are British. The news report tells the viewer that the top story is about the youngest boy on earth, dying. As this is said, we then get a high angle shot of a small crowd looking up at the television. This gives the viewer an idea of what the film is going to be about.

The crowd of people are all in dark clothing and the lighting around them is dull which sets the overall mood of the opening. A man then pushes through the crowd and asks for a coffee. It is obvious that he is the main character as he is the only one in the cafe who doesnt seem interested in what is going on in the news. We then get a medium close-up of the news report on the television. The date is established on screen which is 2027, which is the time in which the film was set. The viewer is told by the news report that the youngest man in the world was 18. This leaves the viewer wondering why a boy of 18 is the youngest boy in the world.

The camera then follows the main character out of the cafe and the setting and date is established once again. 'London, 16th November 2027'. It is clear that the director wants us to remember setting and time. It is clear that the film is set in the future as there are moving images on the sides of buildings, police outfits are different, bicycles have engines, and busses also have moving pictures on the sides of them. The overall lighting is very dull and the colours of peoples clothes are dark which shows that something is not right. Also, you can tell that something is not right by the way the streets look. For example, as the camera follows the main character, we see black bin bags scattered across the pavement. This leaves the viewer wondering what has happened to make the streets seem dull and unsafe.

We then see the main character pour whisky into his coffee which people do not normally do. This shows that there is a story behind the character and this leaves the viewer wondering what. We then see an explosion come out of a building nearby where the character is standing with his coffee. The camera becomes handheld as the main character runs towards the explosion as if we are the main character ourselves which draws the attention of the viewer to why there was an explosion and what happens next. We then see the film title 'Children Of Men' in white, bold lettering against a black background, which makes it stand out to the viewer.

Personally, I am intrigued by the opening sequence. The main thing I am curious about is why the youngest boy in the world is 18? I like that the setting is in the future because if gives me more ideas of how things may be in the real future. For example, if busses will have moving images on the sides instead if still ones. I like the idea of the news report as it makes the opening sequence seem more realistic, as if it is actually happening. Another question I want to know the answer to, is why was there an explosion and what happens after. The opening sequence does make me want to watch the rest of the film as the opening sequence shows that the story line is going to be interesting and it makes me wonder what happens at the end.