Children of Men Opening (Analysis)

  ANALYSIS: CHILDREN OF MEN OPENING SCENE

The opening scenes of the movie, gives us a lot of ideas and feelings about how the world is in the movie. At the start of the film, we hear about the military guarding mosques, a siege in Seattle, and England closing it's border and deporting illegal immigrants. It gives us a notion that the world this movie is set in, has a violent/dangerous environment. This is supported in the film opening, where an un-usual amount of policemen and military helicopters are seen. At the end of the intro, a bomb goes off in the cafe, which further supports my theory of London being a dangerous un-stable place. From what we learn in the intro, the word is set in a fictional plot, in an alternative universe.

Along with the heavy presence of government forces (military and police) London seems to be in a terrible state of condition. With cars extremely dusty, motorcycle hawks-haws,trash piling up on the streets. It seems like London has turned into a slum/ghetto like place. 

With hawks-haws spotted commonly, it is assumed that is a heavy Asian immigrant population based in London. This is supported by the fact that in the intro, we heard a news reporter saying that Britain is closing it's borders and departing illegal immigrants. 

In the intro, the news reporter and news we see on the TV in the movie, tells us that the world youngest person died at 18. This suggests that the movie is set in an alternate time-line where there is this birth control or age control restriction going on, since how can the youngest person in the world be 18. This could be caused by over population of Asian countries. Furthermore, as evidenced by a bomb going off in the intro, there seems to be some kind of conflict/terrorism in London.

The micro-elements in the film also plays a big role, such as the color and clothing of people. Everything is dull and sad, most of the people in the film are wearing dark colors suggesting the movie is in the "dark ages" of humanity.

2 British Police Officers patrol the streets.

A military Chinook helicopter is spotted in the sky.

More police officers are seen inside the coffee shop.

Trash bags piled up on the street.

Hawks-haws are seen everywhere on the streets.

Dusty cars litters the road.

News about Diego's death.

An explosion erupt from the cafe, creating a chaotic feeling.