Children of men

MACRO

-narrative

-genre

-themes

-messages

-representation

MICRO

-cinematography

-lighting

-sound

-mise en scene

-editing

Ending scene:

Lighting is dim and murky creating a sense of calmness yet danger leaking behind the scenes

Sound builds sadness and the sound of the sea and the quiet around them shows that they are in the middle of nowhere and emphasises reality 

Editing is long clips that emphasise the facial expressions of each character

Cinematography 

Suggested sequel:

The boat coming along is not the human project but a random boat that spots kee in the water and helps her aboard. The baby is a surprise and they have sudden hope that the world is turning around and the future will be better. Kee finds out that the boat men are just like the terrorists she ran from apart from one that she gets close to and helps her escape from the group of men when they reach land. Obstacles come along like baby trying to get taken away.

Struggle for people to realise the joy in the birth of a baby rather than what new power they can have

Murky and grey colours- the world has been polluted like the people have become infertile- reflection and representation of society

Style emphasises atmosphere

Characters have more to their personality - reality/ morality  >> good parts and bad parts

Doomed woman - Julian

Ingenue/ damsel in distress - kee

Rake/ tragic hero/ Everyman - theo

Wise man - jasper

Secret identity/ town bully - Luke 

Sidekick - Sid

When comparing the two films look for differences AND similarities

V for vendetta: Problem caused by government

Children of men: Problem caused by human development- infertility 

The way it is shot is almost like a documentary which makes it more believable as we are empathising through Theo's eyes

V for vendetta almost Hollywood ending

Children of men cliffhanger ending

Both protagonists die at the end

Byronic hero: a proud moody and cynical man yet capable of deep and strong affection

Reluctant hero: a person who doesn't seek adventure or the oppurtunity to do good and often doubts his or her abilities to rise to heroism. However circumstances inevitably result in the characters becoming a true hero

Children of men could be portraying that women can be more powerful through their looks 

What happens to Miriam?

What happens to kee?

What happens to Sid?

What happens to the gypsy lady that can't speak English?

1) human centred: individual characters are the casual agents of the narrative; narrative centers on individual choices, action, decisions, or problems

>>The characters were acting more self aware like humans rather than being the role that they were given

5) is dominated by clear and complete motivation of actions and events

>>

Does children of men conform to the CHN?

No because it does not have the clear start middle and end>> it does not come to a resolution as it is left on a cliff hanger. The characters have more in depth elaboration to their personalities- they can't neccessarily be put into the good or bad category as they are more realistic as they have both good and bad parts to their personalities just like normal people. There is a background story that has pros and cons and different views it can be seen from 

Children of men starts equilibrium- due to the movie being portrayed through Theo's perspective the disruption is his ex wife dying

Narrative

Make sure key scenes interlink with similarities or differences

What is a video essay?

-CHN

-Characters

-post modern narrative(?)

5 key points

-narrative plot outline

-clear resolution

-characters

-stock characters 

-opposites problems and challenges good vs bad

Title: to what extent does children of men and v for vendetta conform to CHN? 

Children of men is more about message than entertainment where v for vendetta seems to want to balance the entertainment and message 

Children of men is an independent film shot by a foreign director

What are the conventions of dystopian sci fi? 

Machines/ technology

War

Murky lighting

Fire explosions

Fast paced action

Robots

Machines vs humans

Deserts and underground bunkers

Improved technology

Brain improvement technology to do with memories

Built up cities

Magnetic cars with streets 30 metres off the ground

Total recall is more like v for vendetta 

Terminator salvation is more like children of men