Children of Men

P.D. James’ novel plays well as a movie. Even though it is a British production, I thought it was a good movie. It is bleak, intense at times, and does an excellent job of portraying the hopelessness, despair and anger of a doomed earth. I was drawn into the gloom and despair, making the movie work for me.

I enjoyed the movie mainly for its philosophical message. The movie basically portrays how humans would respond if all hope was lost and the end of mankind was imminent. For some unknown reason, all women have become infertile and there hasn’t been a single birth on the whole planet for eighteen years. The end of the human race is inevitable and despair sets in.

P.D. James effectively portrays man’s response to hopelessness and inevitable doom. Most humans give in to despair while a few hold on to hope. Those few find hope in Christianity, calling for repentance. Most, however, reject religion and give in to hopelessness. Some choose to peacefully end their lives by committing suicide through a government program of self-poisoning. Others isolate themselves and find refuge in drugs and music. Many, however, are filled with rage and commit violent acts towards civilians or the government.

I feel the movie accurately portrayed the chaos, despair and violence that would run rampant if something like this really did happen. In fact, these responses are seen in societies where hopelessness reigns, such as in the inner city, war-ravaged regions and poverty-stricken areas. Without hope, there is very little reason to live; and if one does live, there is very little reason to live civilly.

In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl chronicles how Jews interred in Nazi concentration camps dealt with hopelessness and despair. Man cannot live a meaningful and prosperous life without hope. Take away hope, and man degenerates into violence, destruction and despair. This is why the Gospel is so powerful, because it gives man true hope, filling life with meaning and purpose. The Children of Men paints an accurate picture of what life is like without hope.

When a young girl is found pregnant, hope is injected into the story. The birth of the child brings new hope to mankind. It is hard to miss the analogy to Jesus, who brought new hope to the world when he was born. Christ is our only true hope, and when man discovers him and believes in him, life is transformed and infused with new power. Despair and destruction are replaced with hope and creativity as the new man is sent out into the world to be a redeeming influence in a hopeless world.