Children of Men - Renegade Cut

An analysis of the politics and philosophies within the 2006 Alfonso Cuarón film Children of Men. Support Renegade Cut Media and request an episode here: / renegadecut
~-~~-~~~-~~-~
Please watch: "Thor Ragnarok - Colonialism in Asgard | Renegade Cut"
• Thor Ragnarok - Coloni...
~-~~-~~~-~~-~

[@GladiusAustalis]

One thing that is rarely pointed out about this film is the fact that Theo doesn't use a gun, even when given the opportunity. That was a powerful thing to me when the film came out and still is today.

[@dshe8637]

In Britain we mostly recognise guns as more trouble than they are worth. Soldiers and bank robbers have them.

[@heinrichdavid3001]

Theo still tries to grab hold of syd's weapon but he slips because of his flip flops coming off, so he prefers to run away as he loses one so he's more vulnerable.

[@safaaharrouni195]

He is portrayed as an empathic person, that's why animals love him

[@ErinHeartpenny]

I love Children of Men and rewatch it every couple years. The biblical reference that always stood out for me was that Theo is Noah. He is constantly surrounded by animals, many of whom are calmed by his presence, in fact, I think one person even says of their dog, 'he likes you, and he doesn't like anyone.' Theo gets Kee to the Tomorrow via row boat, a ship (or ark?) meant to save humanity and the world.

[@nigelpierre1991]

@@maxotto9877 Could it be that all stories derive their narratives from one metanarrative?

[@jeremiahskafec8570]

This film and your analysis both gave me chills and provoked disheartening feelings. Children of Men is a brilliant sci fi film.

[@Left4Coragem]

I still remember very well this movie, mainly because it was one of the few big budget movies that didn't spell out exposition and was treating its audience like inteligent adults. I guess because of that...it also didn't made much of a profit.

[@renaissancewoman3770]

Watched this for the first time today, I'm so glad you have a video on it!

[@edalder2000]

The Battersea Power Station scene is my favorite in "Children of Men." Theo goes in a Rolls, I think, from abject poverty and disease to the 1% who are locked in isolation. Theo has to give up his smokes and whiskey before entry. Theo has numbed him from the nothing that he sees. There is a throwaway line about how "The Pieta" was smashed before it could be saved. "The Pieta" is Mary holding her dead son Jesus. Ironic in a world without children and hope. As a music nerd The soundtrack of The Battersea Power Station scene gets me most of all. The song is "The Court of The Crimson King" by King Crimson. It's a funeral dirge.

[@42ndLife]

Man vs Mankind. I don't think I've seen that specific conflict before this film.

[@smjaiteh]

Children of Men is my favorite movie, period. One of the best visual spectacles ever made. I feel the setting is getting more salient, unfortunately, but hopefully that means that the themes of the power of hope, and how it can ignite human altruism in the face of despair becomes more powerful, too.

[@RafaelCardoso299]

Excellent video !

[@brad4571]

One of my most favorite movies of all time. The cast is awesome Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Cain. That long shot in the car, and the one with the child that stops the battle is amazing.

[@generalsci3831]

I need to watch this film again.

[@jvondd]

Great video with some excellent insight. I remember seeing this movie when it came out, and it stuck with me in a way I wasn't expecting it to, and it feels even more relevant now than it did in 2006.

[@suadela87]

Just watched this movie for the first time. Oh my god, what a beautiful film.

[@morningowl43]

What’s terrifying is this is becoming less and less sci-fi and more realism as time creeps closer to 2027, all that’s left is infertility to happen...

[@lfricmunuc4534]

Theo also has similarities to Joseph in the nativity. He selflessly adopts the child as a non-biological father for a greater purpose.

[@CleverMonkeyArt]

The name "Theo", or the word, as in theo-cratic, is Greek, and means God or having to do with God. Theo may not be a figure for the creator God, but he does play something like the Son of God, including his self-sacrifice.

[@TheThing4444]

​@@CleverMonkeyArtAnd what does he say when he sees Kee's pregnancy? "Jesus Christ!".

[@qwellen7521]

I love this movie. Its frankly scary how accurate this movie ended up being. It is interesting how many Sci-fi films take take considerable textual depth from religious sources, which is ironic, given I've always seen the genre as the antithesis of religious fiction. Great analysis as always

[@kestral63]

me(2006):"This movie's pretentiously cynical. Mankind wouldn't turn into such a mindlessly hateful cesspool of suicidal idio--" 2016:"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

[@colleennewholy9026]

Add 2019 to that list my friend

[@solk.posner7201]

It's 2020. Children of Men is a self fulfilling prophecy.

[@someguy4512]

@@solk.posner7201 man i which i was born in the 50's then now such weird complex times we live in UFO's Virus nationalism and Terrorism huh

[@alexbaker9578]

2021 checking in. World getting loonier by the day

[@cubankid1959]

2022: last person to die please turn the lights out

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

Does Fukuyama ever considered all this xenophobia and nationalism to be a reaction of the sistem he defended at the beggining of the 90s when he claimed the end of History?

[@CoarStolos]

ups, not!

[@thelonelypilot]

I do not understand, please explain?

[@corvuscallosum5079]

@@thelonelypilot Fukuyama wrote a book in the early 90s called The End of History and the Last Man, in which he argued that liberal western democracy was essentially the final form of society and could not/would not be superseded in the long run. In fairness, he has since revised his views somewhat, and now at least realised that it's very possible for such democracies to backslide.

[@cheekyboy-ho9ub]

@@corvuscallosum5079 seems like there are strong man leaders who don't care much for democracy popping up everywhere. nationalism is the order of the day, now.

[@khwarezmia]

He probably did, but doesn't like to think about it too much.

[@whereisCarmenSandiego]

When Julianne Moore gets shot I realized this was not the movie I thought it would be. It made it feel more real.

[@VandergriftMoefies]

This is my absoluut, favorite movie ever made! I was absolutely blown away the first time I saw it. It is a crime that this movie is so under rated and so unknown. Everything about this movie is just so wel done. Alfonso Cuaron is an absoluut brilliant film maker. The fist time I saw one of his movies was when I was a kid and I saw the 3th Harry Potter film. His style captured me immediately. I love al the HP films (A LOT!), but the third one always stood out to as something speciaal. The vibe he creates in his films with the camera work, the lighting, sound and the music is just amazing. It al feels so dynamic and that you are there. The fact that he keeps everything wide and rarely uses a close up really makes he films feel different.

[@rbdriftin]

I loved it when it came out, I think it might just be my favourite film of this century so far having just watched it again in 2019. With global warming, the rise of The Brexit Party, and rampant neo-liberalism I’ve never seen such a frightening and prescient piece of fiction. I also love how it’s actually a meditation on hope and faith though.

[@Abweichung]

My favorite film, thank you for doing this.

[@emmaquay8005]

The Tomorrow may also have some parallel to the soliloquy in Macbeth. "There would have been a time for such a word tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow." The ship arrives, but Theo's life is already over. The ship has no difference in his life.

[@brian7656]

I think people really truly do underestimate just how important a good economy is at staving off jingoism. The citizens by in large of especially the United States aren't particularly well versed in historic analogies and understanding of human nature. If there is a (usually economic, but not exclusively) systemic problem, citizens will often scapegoat minorities. Not only an economy that's extremely stacked against the poor, and to a slightly lesser extent, middle class, but also an economy fueled by endless war. I find it really disheartening now that I'm an adult in college that I grew up when my country was in a constant state of war and thought "I guess that's just how things go." Despair and poverty beget only rage.

[@TheGearChat]

These videos always make my morning routine so pleasant when I can listen and watch while preparing for work.

[@BartScantlin]

I did an 8 page essay on this movie for a film class I took a few years ago. I watched the film 5 times. I can safely say that you have shed light on this film that I hadn't even thought about. So yeah, great job!

[@mszymcza]

Your movie reviews are incredible and always have me wanting to rewatch the film. Thank you.

[@kzinful]

How interesting, the children's voices heard at the ending credits is what truly haunted me the most from this movie, for I ( perhaps, wrongly ) reasoned this to represent all hope was lost and those voices drove that home.

[@ConnerNielsen6]

This is probably your best RC in some time. Great work!

[@antonboludo8886]

If you cannot change something which is unpleasant to you, do not think about it. This seems to make sense, no?

[@1980redkremlin]

Really enjoyed that. Very incisive. Keep them coming!

[@falco178]

Its messed up but it kind of feels like the world we live in today.

[@danman1950]

It should also be mentioned that this movie came out Christmas Day in 2006, further hammering the religious aspect and the hopeful themes home.

[@junejunejuniejune]

thank you so much for making this. it is truly one of my favorite movies!

[@ryandesiato5145]

Phenomenal and enlightening work Mr. Cut.

[@dshe8637]

This is a film worth seeing, to be sure. As well as thoughtful plot, there's great acting -esp Owen

[@singIeservingfriend]

I love your film reviews

[@umusuuk]

Children of Men has been my long time favorite movie, and yeah, it's kinda scary how prophetic it's looking day by day. One part I'd like to see an analysis of is the plit in the Fishes organization. The facton that wants to use the baby as propaganda is seen as an antagonist, but given some depth towards the end when Theo meets one of them in a firefight in the camp. The kinda underlying idea, to me, is that for the immigrants liberation is a more urgent cause than a longshot chance of curing the infertility crisis.

[@galactic85]

But to achieve 'liberation' they are willing to manipulate a mother who is an immigrant for their own ends and stage a coup to kill their own leader. For me the message of the film is "children are the future." If we aren't looking out for them first and foremost then we are doomed. But yes I do appreciate that the fishes are given more depth than just being just an antagonistic organization.

[@ryanbenson4610]

Sounds like U.K. and US are more similar than I thought.

[@AmeerKKamal]

Excellent analysis

[@Fairfieldfencer]

I have to really thank you for your breakdowns of these movies, especially after learning your background as an English literature teacher. You open eyes to such deep movies revealing their contents to people like me who are no good at this stuff. My problem with films that are deep is if you don't get it, the entire time watching it is for nothing and if you want to make a good movie you can't make the idea too obvious. The things you reveal shed such light on these films and really, and this is a crucial word, educate people.

[@MatthewMcGovernmainpage]

A very good analysis of the movie, and the most obvious outcome of such a situation, both dystonia, and possible the future.

[@antonboludo8886]

5:05 - Look how alive Kee's face is. She holds the future. She has that special glow... Jasper's poor wife is dead, though...

[@gRosh08]

We do not get the World we deserve... The refusal to fight for which World we want is the World we are Given. Pretty simple, really.

[@diegodesantiagodelfin7940]

I just noticed the Animals by Pink Floyd reference in the background of the scene. Nice and sweet

[@charlieni645]

And Cuaron made hands down the best Harry Potter film. His explicit use of imagery lends that film a sense of otherworldly feel and unease that Chris Columbus never bothered with and David Yates failed to recapture.

[@Companion92]

It was hard to watch this movie some years ago, when I first did it. But the political parallels make it really scary today.

[@therealpersephonechannel1134]

A remarkable thing about the movie is that all the character using violence in this movie, inevitably fail horribly, and the protagonist who never touch a gun actually accomplish something!

[@hatuletoh]

I was totally unprepared for this film when I rented and watched it on a whim years ago. I had no idea what I was in for, and I was in no mood for a cerebral, dystopian story, but it was too interesting to turn it off. "C of M", for me, falls into the category of "a wonderfully well-made movie that I'm looking forward to never watching again." And I haven't since that evening over a decade ago that I sat alone on my couch, having my brain and heart boiled by it.

[@jagvillani338]

If you want a recommendation for "a wonderfully well-made movie that I'm looking forward to never watching again" then check out Incendies (2010) by Denis Villeneuve.

[@rachaelpoulin1997]

Never seen this movie, but now I feel like I need to sit down, watch it and ugly cry after

[@Kimmy_95]

I hope you watched it. IMO it was a fantastic film. I've heard about it for years & January this year was the 1st time I viewed it. Better late than never.

[@chickrepelant]

awesome i'm going to need to watch this one again!

[@michihartm]

Very well done

[@jayoctopus8267]

he loses his child in a flu epidem-BRUH WHAT

[@DinosaurSenior]

This video hits different during covid 😅

[@XtheUnknown13]

I like to pretend that Shoot 'Em Up is the unofficial sequel to Children of Men. Of course, for it to work, you have to ignore Clive Owen dying at the end of Children of Men.

[@Manta665]

is that ... the Homeworld Soundtrack as of 8:20?

[@renegadecut9875]

I had to look up what Homeworld is. A video game? No, I have never used video game music in my episodes.

[@colleennewholy9026]

It's an actual, church-y song. I just can't member it.

[@nclxmefozd6264]

Listen to Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra's What We Loved Was Not Enough, watch this movie then cry.

[@antonboludo8886]

9:48 - BINGO!

[@arnthorsnaer]

Nigel actually has the right idea. Nobody knows the future. They don’t know that humanity will go extinct. The art is therefore preserved.

[@UncleAnaesthesia]

Arguably one of the greatest modern films. I could see how your analysis might not sit well with the parallels to right-of-centre politicos, thus contributing to the downvote, but that's childish. Solid analysis and you said it best: Children of Men is prescient.

[@lc9245]

About the theme, don’t forget that the reactionary movement is causing even more drastic action from the government by their violence. The circle of hatred and violence simply escalate and worsen the situation. It warns about what fear can ruin the world. It’s a beautiful movie, and it’s theme is more transcendental than merely the politics of our time.

[@vishalhhh1]

waiting for bicycle thieves and Martin Scorsese films reviews from your great eyes !!

[@vishalhhh1]

Renegade Cut ohh how I missed that thanks I will have a look. Mean Streets + Raging Bull

[@nicholasbodo4327]

What are the names of the pieces of classical music in the video?

[@herbertherbert7272]

If you want a certain movie to be covered, you might want to look at Leon's patreon page. Requests in the comments are highly unlikely to be considered.

[@buffalopigeon]

This helped me out

[@thelonewolf2476]

I love this movie

[@grimsong2237]

Great review as usual. Could you please review Barry Gordys "The last dragon"?As a black kid in the 80s every black kid I knew watched this film. Though an action film I thought it had some interesting things say about identity.

[@grimsong2237]

I wish I could commission a dozen vids by you but unfortunately I am what Wikipedia defines as poor. But no worries you deserve every penny you get for these movie analysis vids. I hope yourchannel hits a million plus subs. Keep up the good work brother!

[@thomasking8474]

This movie reminds me of The Last Of Us.

[@thomasking8474]

I'm only saying that both protagonist in the movie and game remind me of one another.

[@zigsterabs7439]

THOMAS KING Fun fact: The Children of men movie inspired naughty dog and Neil druckman to make the last of us That is another reason y they r so similar

[@bergonath8851]

The Last of Us is much more depressing, though. Hence the name: the last moments of humanity.

[@benvigus8705]

What will be the setting our children will deserve? Or us?

[@AnneHeche-c2j]

if you can find the series, children of the men and the uprising, they look like a better version of this movie.

[@zedek_]

11:35 That's pretty interesting. I actually get a sense of comfort, peace, and even a sense of awe depending on what we're specifically talking about. Reminds me of the show *Cosmos*, both the Sagan and the Tyson versions. Really doesn't do me any good to be upset about it anyway, right? Might as well appreciate what there is. Also, I just feel the need to point out that Pascal's Wager is a terrible piece of illogical garbage.

[@antonboludo8886]

There were a few technical advances in 2027, but not that many. They were not necessary for the story.

[@ТарасШалай-у5ю]

Ironi.... It`s terebel wen THIS is the future scenario fich come thru. Thank you for analises.

[@babyblu4692]

spot on observations here, you also seem to have a more intelligible understanding of social issues in the UK than the majority of people here. keep it up!

[@TheBeird]

Watched this again recently, and as a Brit . . . yeah, it felt more relevant than ever 😧

[@InkDropFalls]

have not noticed when his at work that no one is working they all just watching videos of childhood and past ... It says the youngest person at start film dies on tv ....yet when his at th great manor (power plant) seems to be someone who even younger looking maybe 20 ...and its 18 years passed so he was age 2 when this happens also people envy youth in this film another aspect is why is there so many dogs in this film ...pretty much every scene has some dog or dog image or barking ...at this point i expect dog would have been livestock ...Why is all the dogs old dogs too ...you expect maybe kept dogs can dogs can breed and thus they get to witness the birth of life and somehow long for that and thus dogs serve as memory ...but then you would expect that there would be puppies throughout

[@antenman]

As an catholic turned agnostic, I believe this is the most beautiful christian story.

[@frankkrumnow7194]

The genius of the film is to not give any explanation on the why the infertility happens. If it would say climatechange or overpopulation, anyone would discuss how realistic that is. By this trick the film can just show how a world without hope and rising police states will look like in some decades if we continue on the current path. So I agree: one of the most relevant films right now.

[@richarddoyle3420]

Great film... Now erased because feelings.

[@cianryan5955]

In their piece about this films place as a modern masterpiece, empire magazine referred to this not as a film, but as a "cannery in the coal mine". Which is too disturbing for words.

[@carriemillar6277]

I’m scared

[@bb1111116]

While I have sympathy for the ills of modern society dramatized in "Children of Men", I prefer the handling of this kind of material as done in "V for Vendetta". While Curon hates exposition, it does not need to be done with simple spoon feeding. The protagonist in interacting with characters can expose underlying causes for dystopia in a natural/organic way. Cause is related to knowledge and the quest to understand that is essential imo.

[@curiousworld7912]

Nationalism, not patriotism, is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

[@judgewest2000]

The one thing that wouldn't make sense is the hostility to migrants. If young people were running out in the world, each country would make a grab for them as a precious resource.

[@dapeach06]

Japan, Italy, and many other countries have hugely declining birth rates, yet are still anti-immigration