Children of Men (2006 Alfonso Curaon)

I don't need me to tell me how good this film is....

From the 1992 novel by PD James, written by Alfonsito and Timothy Sexton, (with earlier drafts from David Arat, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby). And, Clive Owen contributed to it (uncredited.)

Clive Owen holds every scene. Even when stealer Caine shares it.

Alfonso and Chivo have this way of pulling you in to a scene. The famous long single take camera is just one of the most outstanding things ever (we had to watch it twice), I mean how did they do that bit with the motorbike?? The way all the people appear over the hill reminds me of that amazing scene in Roma in the department store and suddenly a riot kicks off outside. 26.44 - 30.50. (The van had a built in roof in which the dolly operator, focus puller and Chivo were housed.) (There's a possible edit point where the flames hit the windscreen.) Four minutes. There's an even longer one later though, if not two - the birth scene?

Brothers George Richmond (Kingsman, Wild Bill, upcoming Rocketman) is a camera operator and Jonathan Richmond a focus puller, at work especially in the other really long take 1.23:27 which must have taken so long to set up and execute, that's why the blood spatter is on the lens - in fact Alfonso tried to stop the take but he was drowned out by an explosion. At 1.27:35 the camera looks up a stairwell and somehow, magically, the spatters are gone (i.e. a subtle digital edit point).

I also love the night scene (where are the lights - are there any?) and the escape from Ejiofor's place (almost Hitchcocky - the car won't start). The whole thing looks like it's been bleach bypassed or something to make it look ... depressing.

It's scary just how resonant the film is - how it's not really in the future at all, but right now. Alfonso said he wanted it to be more The Battle of Algiers than Blade Runner - he got that right and succeeded admirably.

Features Tavener 'Fragments of a Prayer', King Crimson, Cantus by Arvo Pärt.

Flashes of humour are most welcome (suicide kit is called 'Quietus'*). Did not realise - there's an animal in almost every scene, nor that Banksys are visible...

Sound design Richard Beggs.

It's astonishing.

(* Actually, now I know 'Quietus' means death, it's not funny.)