Freddie, Amandeep and Morgan AS Coursework: Children Of Men Analysis

Camera Shot/Angle/Movement

This shows the low angle that is used in the opening scene. The opening scene is all produced using one shot from the point at which the protagonist walks out of the cafe. While he is walking outside the cafe a track shot is used to follow him outside onto the streets. We can assume a steadicam may be used during this shot.

A range of angles are used in the opening scene such as low angle whilst the public are focusing on the TV and anglehile the protagonist is ordering his coffee in the cafe.

This screen shot shows the track shot that is used
to follow the protagonist outside the coffee shop

This shows the high angle that was used when the protagonist is ordering coffee.

Sound

There is a mixture of sound used throughout the scene. At the beginning of the shot there is a use of diegetic sound, because the TV is being played in the background. However as the main character walks out the coffee shop there is the use of non-diegetic sound. As the shot ends there’s a use of diegetic sound again because of the explosion and traffic in the background.

Editing

In Children of Men there is a use of several lengthy single-shot sequences. The use of long takes and single shot sequences, draws the attention of the audience and keeps us engrossed in the film to find out what will happen next. The editing in Children of Men shows the use of a variety of shots such as tracking shots.

Mise en Scene
The Mise en Scene in Children of Men helps us to understand where the film is set, because of the use of props, such as the red buses and the lighting in the shot which gives it a dull and gloomy atmosphere. The scenery which is shown in the opening scene portrays london in the future as very dirty and polluted environment. By including police in the opening scene it makes us acknowledge that the society is in fear, and under the threat of terrorism.

Characters

In the opening scene the main focus is on the protagonist which makes us assume that he may take the role as the main character.

Locations

We can identify the location from the opening scene because the use of Mise en Scene such as the red bus and police men which we can associate with London.

Narrative/Plot

The world's youngest citizen has just died at 18, and humankind is facing the likelihood of its own extinction. The film is set in London in the year of 2027 with unmanageable violence and destruction, Children of Men follows the unexpected discovery of a lone pregnant woman and the desperate journey to deliver her to safety and restore faith for a future beyond those presently on Earth.

Themes
The themes shown in the opening scene of Children of Men are terroism, violence and death.

Visual Style
The film 'Children of Men' is set in 2027 in the streets of London so the visual style is very futuristic and dramatic. They have taken a very distinctive visual style in the movie, with the use of long takes. It is almost as if you personally are following the character with a camera, so you feel as if you are experiencing it with the main character.

Genre : The Genre of this particular film is Sci-fi we can tell this by the conventions used throughout the opening scenes such as the explosion at the end of the scene and the use of futuristic concepts.