It’s been two decades since Alfonso Cuarón conjured a terrifying vision of future dystopian Britain in Children Of Men – which, given it’s set in 2027, is on the cusp of no longer being future. The film, based on PD James’ novel, is set in a world where the human race has become mysteriously infertile, sending society into a literal death-spiral – until Clive Owen’s everyman Theo is charged with transporting somehow-pregnant youngster Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) across the country to safety. With ambitious long-takes, visceral setpieces, and an all-star cast (remember hippie stoner Michael Caine?), the film has become a landmark of ‘00s cinema – despite struggling at the box office on release.
Reflecting on the film 20 years later in Empire, Cuarón opened up about why Children Of Men has grown in stature so much over the years. “Thematically, it feels more present, I guess,” he says. “But for me, ultimately, what was interesting when I was doing it — together with the social-political exploration — was more the dilemma. There is a speech we have in the film: ‘Everything is a mythical battle between faith and chance.’ How much can we do? How much can we just stay out of it? And I guess that that’s something that people struggle with every day. In particular, when there are times of distress, you get to question yourself more about those things.”
While we’re thankfully not experiencing a global fertility crisis, the time since Children Of Men’s release has given us a worldwide pandemic, devastating wars, and natural disasters, broadcast to us 24/7 via smartphones and social media. Today’s reality is far from easy. “I think that everybody is pretty much well-informed about what’s happening in the world,” reflects Cuarón of today’s Britain. “It’s not necessarily knowledge, but it’s information. The world is so in your face. And people feel a reaction. You can see it on social media. They feel a reaction, and then they might write a very elaborate comment stating their position and all of that stuff, and then they scroll a little bit, and then they [get distracted by] some boots that they want to buy. [It all happens] at a very frantic speed, without any time of reflection in-between.” Here’s hoping the next 20 years make Children Of Men feel a little less present, eh?
Read Empire’s full Children Of Men 20th anniversary interview with Alfonso Cuarón in the Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew issue, on sale Thursday September 24. Pre-order a copy online here.
