Analysis of 'Children Of Men'

Genre -  
Children Of Men is obviously in the genre of a dramatic film. This is shown through the opening sounds; the beginning 30 seconds has no sound at all and builds a tense atmosphere which adds drama. Similarly, there is a use of low-key lighting throughout the entire opening of the film, which is added to by a use of slow editing and a fog / grey sky when the camera eventually follows the main character outside. This use of colour and editing makes the film have a serious tone and have a depressing fee - shown by the opening scene of glum faces in a coffee shop while the news is playing. This adds to the drama of the play. Similarly, the genre of the play could also be a Sci-Fi  as we find out that the film is set in the year 2027 and therefore is fictional and obviously hasn't really happened and also could be an adventure - action style film as the end of the openin
g there is an explosion.

Narrative / Character - 
The narrative of the film is very serious as it portrays the world of the future in a very grave state. We meet whom we assume is the main character as he is being followed by the camera, we also meet the type of the film we are watching as there is a huge explosion. this is usually a stereotypical even that occurs in an action, however as we find that the film is sent in the future we find that the narrative of this film is going to be Sci-fi related and fictional. As well as this, we find that the film is going to be a very serious watch. On one level, this is shown through the fact that this could be a representation of the future we will live in, but also because of the use of clothing of the main character - he is wearing mainly black clothes which represents the glum and unhappiness of the world of the film.

Sound  - 
The sound in the opening of this film is use in a very authentic and different way
to the normal -  there is a use of silence and a lack of much sound to represent and build tension throughout the opening. Firstly, at the very beginning of the clip when the production companies animation are on screen, there is complete silence. This is different to normal as usually Universal (the production company for this film) have their trademark sound as their logo comes up, however with this film, there is dead silence. This also happens with the other companies logos, 'Strike' and 'Hit and Run Productions'. After this, there is  complete darkness on the screen as we hear voices of what we assume is a TV broadcast of the BBC, as they report about the death of the 'youngest person alive' . This use of only sound without anything to look at makes the audience focus on what they're hearing and adds to the drama of the opening. Furthermore, from the beginning to the end there is no soundtrack used and at the end of the opening, as there is an explosion and as the film title comes up, there is complete silence, other than a ringing sound which is supposed to be heard after an  explosion that has affected your ears. The total lack of non-diegetic sound throughout the entire piece creates a real feel, as if you're really there, and adds to the verisimilitude of a fiction picture. This is also added to be the use of a hand-held camera which follows the main character out of the coffees shop.

Lighting / Atmosphere -
The lighting and colouring in this opening is one of low-key lighting with a very grey and dreary colour scheme. This is shown through the lack of light in the cafe, as well as every character being in their dark work clothes and the sky being grey.This adds to the tension of the opening atmosphere as the darkness of the picture not only increases drama but also makes the piece seem dull and life seem boring, so when the explosion at the end happens it is contrasting and therefore has a greater effect on unexpectancy.

Themes - 
The opening of this film sets up the themes of the rest of the film as it portrays where the film is going to be set (2027) and sets up what kind of film we are going to watch. we can tell from this opening that we are about to watch an adventure / action. This is shown through the explosion in the very first couple of minutes of the film. Similarly, we find that the film s going to be a fictional, Sci-fi film as we hear about the 'young person alive dying', a person that is 18 years old and 4 months. This creates the idea that the film is going to be in a non-existent world, however is supposed t be the future of England (London).

Titles -
The titles of this film also add into the dull and dreary theme of this play. This is through the fact that all the titles are using the same very normal and boring font, which is white on a black screen with no other picture on the screen to take away from it. This use of the font makes the opening title sequence seem very boring, and as it is supposed to be a normal work day for the people in the film, add to the realism of the film. It also contracts the explosion at the end of the opening, as there is complete silence when the titles come up and they are in black and white, this is juxtaposing the colourful, loud explosion and also adds to the unexpactancy of it.