Children of Men–not of God
You can read this movie’s synopsis here.
Ok, so…Children of Men is a great movie, and you have to admit that, even if you didn’t particularly like the film. Why? Simply put, it’s causing a stir. 
If you don’t like Clive Owen in the lead role, that’s ok. If you don’t like Ashitey, who’s pretty much a newcomer to the movie scene, that’s ok too. Even if you push me and say that you don’t like Michael Kaine…well. I guess everyone has faults, that’s ok. The thing is, this movie is not about liking or not like the actors, camera angles, or even plot. It’s about liking (or not liking) it’s ideas.
A lot of religiously-minded people have been likening this story to a “Nativity” story, saying that it’s Mary and Joseph for the modern age. I disagree. You get the first clue that this is a story about anything BUT God in the title–Children of who? Men, not God.
The story does follow a nativity-like pattern, I’ll give you that. However, frequently religious followers are pushed to the forefront. Unlike the nativity story, these people don’t need a savior for their souls. They have religion. They need a savior for life itself.
It brings to mind the intelligent design debate in the public school system today. This movie is all about God versus monkeys. I’ll even be brave enough to guess that the original intent of the film is to say, in some sense, that EVEN IF we were created according to the Genesis story, we need to dwell on evolution now. Without God, perhaps we could not have been created. Without man, however, we will not survive.
The radical group in this story has the name “the Fishes.” Very biblical–”and I will make you fishers of man.” In my mind, I see a million possible connections and theories I’d like to tell you, but I’ll save you the time and simple voice one question. Why are they called “fishes” and not “fishers”?
If this was a real-life group, I’d say that they made a mistake. I believe the group intends to be thought of as fishers–people who are going to go and and spread the Gospel (or, in this case, spread the truth about the ugly government). However, looking more closely, the author was correct, and the name truly reflects who they are–people who are lost and waiting for a savior.
Again, the savior they seek is not God. Children of Men asks us to look within ourselves for comfort and to look toward the future for hope. The outlook is fairly religiously bleak, but has extreme faith in the power of mankind.
Religious or not, I do like this movie, and I think that you should go out and see it, for it’s amazing camera work if nothing else. Do not look towards this movie to guide you to God, however. This movie voices the opinion that we have outgrown religion, and we need ourselves as much as we need a deity.
Further thoughts on this movie tomorrow…
Children of Men, Clive Owen, God, religion, intelligent design, religion
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