Children of Men Messages

This scene conveys that children give people hope and something to live for-they would stop the violence if it means having the joy of family once more. Juxtaposition is shown between war and peace - peace being the baby. This scene is a long take shot this shows realism and gives a realistic answer to a problem that is being caused in our generation.

This scene shows that in the eyes of society in 2027, young people were seen as a miracle and idiolised as it is the only special thing that the world had left. Also, this also shows that the youngest child in the world who died symbolises the death of hope; hope is re-born again through Kee who is not wealthy and possibly an immigrant. Therefore, it challenges the governments ideas. Also, the child came from a humble beginning which is Christ-like

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Children of Men: style, theme, genre

Lesson 2.1 Notes:

Children of Men: Why is the film important in terms of?....
Themes:
- Life
- Peace 
- Re-Birth

Representation of gender:
- Theo is the fatherly figure to Kee and the baby.

Style (the way it is shot):
- Kee and the baby are always central and in shot.
- Realistic

MACRO: (narrative)
- Equilibrium (beginning): As things are, it sets the scene
- Distribution (middle)
- Resolution (climax - ending): Everything gets resolved - closure
*Children of men = open ended (Independent film)*

Independent films are challenging and makes you think, it doesn't give you the Classic Hollywood Narrative ending, it makes you interpretate and add your own ending.

If you take away children, women become redundant and everyone becomes masculine. The baby stops everyone and they all become maternal as they haven't seen a baby in 18 years. Men's hyper masculinity takes over. Children = hope.

Alfonso Cuarón:
Alfonso Cuarón is known for being the director, producer and screenwriter of Children of Men, Gravity, Harry Potter as well as many other films. He uses point of view throughout his films and compared his films to his ex wives: Grateful, wishes them well, but has no desire to go back and visit. He is also from Mexico which can have an affect on the type of films he makes for example conflict and immigration.

The difference in the meaning of war between Children of Men & V for Vendetta:
V for vendetta war = v (freedom fighter/terrorist) v's government (good/fascist) 

Children of men war = freedom fighters v's war 

V for vendetta war is a necessary way to get to the end of the film in children of men war is in the back 

Children of men war = war & peace (the baby causes peace) 

Baby ends human conflict - religious theme baby is a savior as it represents peace 

In children of men war is a bad things it's the backdrop whereas in children of men war is the main theme and in v for vendetta war is a resolution. 

Independent films - intellectual people, people who want a challenge
Hollywood films - people who want entertainment
Children of Men doesn't fit into a genre as it doesn't follow the genre conventions of the classic Hollywood narrative.

V for Vendetta and Children of Men comparative essay: Style and Themes

V for Vendetta (2009) a Hollywood movie production and Children of Men (2006) an independent movie production although are different both have the same or very similar themes and style shown throughout. They both follow the same 2 themes dystopia and totalitarianism and are both set within the near future to send out messages to the viewers of what may happen in the future – a warning sign.

V for Vendetta a political thriller set in Great Britain 2020 and Children of Men a science fiction action thriller set also in Great Britain of the year 2027 are both set in a dystopian near future.

V for Vendetta is a film based around terrorism, the government and freedom. V himself is a freedom fighter fighting for the nation’s freedom (so the public think) but really it’s for his own freedom as much as any other person living within London. The reason as to why it is set within a dystopian near future is to give out important messages/warning signs to us the current residents of the UK to tell us what could happen within our own future. It also shows a non-desirable future due to it being over rules by the government, technology is more powerful – speakers in the streets, there is a big divide between rich and poor and the city is also very dark and lifeless global warming and over population has come to a head.

Children of Men is a film based around Great Britain being the last functional government, women being infertile and immigration is much stronger and at police reinforcements to stop illegal immigrants entering the UK trying to flee the chaos and war in their own countries and coming over to the UK where it is safe and the last functional government. The film also sends out messages and warning signs as to what could happen in the future. Illegal immigrants are already at a high in the UK so for this film to be made having an aspect based around illegal immigrants and for it to be shown is a high security violent manor is a scare of what may happen to us in the future. Again, its dystopian future therefore we don’t have a desire to live the way it is shown, the whole world is practically at war, the city is lifeless and dull, no longer a pleasant place to live. Children of Man also touch on an aspect of terrorism – another link to V for Vendetta – it’s a film with a warning to change now otherwise things may happen.

Totalitarianism is another theme shown within both films. In V for Vendetta totalitarianism is a big aspect as the film is primarily based around the government and fighting for the freedom away from the government. The government disagrees with many things/people for example homosexuals, disabled, different religions ect if you are anything that the government disagrees with you will be taken and tortured and this is one aspect of which V himself as well as the public once they are behind V want to end.  Children of Men also express aspects of totalitarianism but not as highly as V for Vendetta; totalitarianism is again shown through the government but this time it’s based around illegal immigrants trying to get into the last functional government: the United Kingdom.

Terrorism is another theme that both films touch on V for Vendetta more so due to the main character V being a terrorist and for torturing Evey in a fake concentration camp that V had made to torture Evey to give her strength and to make her fearless. In Children of Men you also have terrorists shown slightly throughout but mostly towards the end in the 'war' atmosphere scene. This is a link between both films which show violence and the fight for survival and freedom.

Birth could also be seen as a theme within both films. Children of Men: Women within Great Britain are infertile however Kee is the only woman who is able to have a baby; so the story takes us through the journey of getting Kee to safety and the birth of her baby – the first child to be born in 18 years. V for Vendetta: Shows the re-birth of Evey after coming out of the concentration camp as a new fearless woman who is no longer vulnerable. V is also shown to be re-born in the scene showing himself coming out of the fire showing V’s identity coming to life.

Overall, V for Vendetta and Children of Men although at first glimpse may look and seem completely different they have certain aspects which are either the same, give off the same message or link to each other in a specific way. The themes and styles that link throughout the 2 films are dystopia: they are both set within a dystopian near future which is not a desirable place to be, totalitarianism: both films show government overtaking the country, they are the leaders, terrorism: terrorism is shown throughout but both in a slightly different way but they both show power and leadership and finally birth: the theme of birth is shown within both films fro, real birth to being re-birthed but they are both bringing a new leaf of light into the world. Both films also send out messages and warning signs as to what could happen int he future if we don't take action, they are both films that show and represent realism.

How does V represent typical gender roles to communicate messages?

Introduction:
V for Vendetta subverts the stereotypical aspects of gender within a Hollywood film. These, stereotypical gender roles are therefore subverted to portray the message of the film which is not to be passive (feminine) but to be active (masculine). The film is shown to be sexist against women and femininity as the film doesn't approve of these traits however, the deeper we go into the film the more we are wrong. After looking at V's gender traits it is clear that the film actually thrives of passiveness and femininity. The film also explores into many mother father figures expressed through many characters. In order for the film to express their feminine messages and traits it uses specific aspects of hyper-masculinity, phallic and yonic imagery, mother and father traits and roles, re-birthing, procreation, nurturer, the theory that men act women appear and also the oedipal complex. All these different aspects are crucial to delivering the messages of gender across within the film and through V himself.

Point 1: Men act women appear & Mother and Father roles.
Examples: Evey's parents being kidnapped & Dietrich and Evey.
Analysis 1: 
Evey's parents being kidnapped shows a mother, father role as she envies to find somebody just like them. Evey being scared within this scene makes her need and want a masculine father figure around her to protection that't why she connects well with Dietrich and V as they portray the mother and father figure she is looking for to guide her through life down the right paths. V is a very motherly figure to Evey; he cooks her breakfast, he dances and he guides her to become fearless and strong again; he re-births Evey back into the world strong again just like before her parents were taken.
Analysis 2:
Within the scene Dietrich and Evey it shows that men act women appear as well as the fatherly bond between himself and Evey. Dietrich is shown to be a strong fatherly figure towards Evey however it subverts that trait once they find out that in fact he is a homosexual. Dietrich therefore gets kidnapped, which shows he is weak and feminine and unfortunately gets killed. Therefore; Dietrich, was never that strong, masculine fatherly figure towards Evey that he was portrayed to be in fact he was also the feminine motherly figure.
Dietrich is a passive character as he is hiding his true identity - homosexuality - therefore he is not acting active which is why he gets taken to the concentration camp and killed.
Dietrich was also Evey's boss so she confides in him as if he was the fatherly/motherly figure she never had.

Point 2: Motherly figure & Re-birthing

Example: Evey's Torture 

Analysis:

Evey's torture scene shows a form of re-birthing as she is becoming a less fearful woman and V is the motherly figure throughout this scene as he guides her down the right path to become fearless and strong. He is acting the mother that Evey never had; although he does it in a painful, torture filled way it worked and allows Evey to be re-born again. She looses her identity and femininity when having her hair shaved off, as soon as he hair goes she becomes a more masculine, powerful and fearless woman which V the motherly figure to Evey has created in order to survive in life. It was all done in Evey's best interests and also partly to relive the torture that V himself had to go through within the concentration camp. Maybe that's why he is so fearless himself?

Point 3: Father & Son traits

Example: Sutler and Creedy

Analysis: 

This scene shows Sutler 'telling off' Creedy; this shows Sutler to be the father figure, this is due to the dominance he holds, the fact that he is the largest most central person in the room due to being on the large screen and he is also looking down to Creedy whilst telling him what to do. However, the roles reverse when Creedy takes on the power and kills his 'father' - Creedy. He does this to gain power - Oedipal - power is a male dominated scene and Creedy ends up taking over the public.

Point 4: The re-birth of Evey and V & the use of phallic and yonic objects/imagery

Example: Evey's awakening

Analysis:

This scene shows Evey being re-born into the world as a fearless women just after being released from the fake concentration camp V had put her through. It uses phallic and yonic objects (fire and rain) to represent a passive and active birth of both Evey and V. Fire which is associated with V's re-birth represents an active firey birth; whereas the rain which is associated with Evey's re-birth represents a purified re birth that brings life. This scene also uses juxtaposition showing V coming out of the fire and Evey herself coming out of the concentration camp V had put her through linking the two re-births together.

Conclusion:

Typical gender roles are not present, the only way of going forward is to not have these typical gender roles; being passive (feminine) results in problems and being active (masculine) also results in problems; there is no winning. No one person, individually has one full gender trait, they are made up of many. As shown in the revolution scene the dialogue that Evey is showing at the very end she talks about how V was her 'mother, father, brother friend, her and everyone'. Nobody has just one single gender trait, gender doesn't even matter in some sense its just a stereotypical thing that you have to be either masculine or feminine. This film is a great film to give that message across that gender doesn't matter.

Course Work Planning:

What type of film is this limited to?
- Contemporary (no more than 10 years old)
- Has to be in English language
- Can include no more than 1 Hollywood film
- Can include multiple independent films

How many films are we looking at?
- 2 Films

What are the 4 stages of coursework?
- Textual Analysis: 1500-2000 word essay
- Planning
- Creative Artefact: extract from a film script with images or a 2 minute filmed sequence (not the opening scene)
- Evaluation  

What stage has the most marks?
- The textual analysis (40 marks)

What are the aspects of 'MACRO'?
- Narrative
- Genre
- Style
- Authorship
- Themes
- Messages
- Values
- Representation

How does it involve MICRO & what is it?
MICRO = 
- Mise en Scene
- Cinematography
- Editing
- Sound
You have to link them and say how the micro/narrative is constructed.
* MICRO links to MACRO *

How does V for Vendetta get across its message and beliefs through its themes?

Introduction:
V for Vendetta is a near future based film which carries a series of messages and beliefs throughout showing Britain to be a dystopian based city. It is built up of a fascist government, terrorism and revenge. V for Vendetta gets across its messages and beliefs by exploring fascism, religion, role of rebellion, terrorism and gender traits. The messages the film give across are that one mans terrorism is another mans freedom - they are constantly fighting for freedom, freedom is their hope; and to never trust the government.

Theme 1: Revolution
Scene: V's Speech 
MICRO: The film shows V wanting everyone to rebel against the government due to his previous experience whilst being within their care; they treated him badly and tested on him therefore he is fighting for his own freedom and revenge and to prove a point and a message to the government. The public believe V is doing it all for their own freedom and for their own benefits but in reality he is only thinking of himself. V is the leader and the reason behind the divide between him and the government; everything is seen to revolve around V - he is always center. Near Future = Warning sign, 
Blocking: Whenever, V is shown on TV he is always in the centre, everything is turned to face V he is the leader.
Light within this scene represents hope and whenever the public are associated with V he is always in daylight therefore it gives the public hope and something to look towards.
Messages: It encourages people to stand up for their own freedom and what they believe in and to not allow the government to take full control.

Theme 2: Gender
Scene: Evey's torture & awakening
MICRO: Gender traits are shown to change throughout the film. V portrays very feminine characteristics throughout e.g mask that is shown to have make up on, long hair, gender less body shape due to the inability to see him. However, Evey's gender traits are shown to change throughout she started of very feminine dressing up and vulnerable until the end where she converts into a more masculine character with the shaved head, no longer vulnerable she is fearless.
Message: It shows that the characters that you may come across at the beginning of the film may not persist to be the character that you first thought they were. Not everyone is who they say they are. Everyone has fear and different aspects of gender.

Theme 3: Religion
Scene: The Bishop & Evey
MICRO: The government distorts religion for control, they corrupt religious figures, the bishop is a pedophile but is covered up by the government, the government discriminates homosexuals, disabled people, lesbians ect but they hide the bishop. 

Theme 4: Fascism
Scene: Larkill & Valerie's letter
MICRO: Fascism is a form of government where the the people are led by a dictator or small group of people - this is shown when the disctatorship (the government) take away Valerie and her girlfriend to the cell for torture because they are lesbians.

- red roses symbolises happiness and life 

Theme 5: Terrorism
Scene: Ending & Evey's role
MICRO: V's mask represents Guy Fawkes in this scene it shows the community coming together dressed as V all wearing the same Guy Fawkes mask. V associates the mask with Guy Fawkes being a freedom fighter; the community are wearing them to protect V, hide his identity and show that they see him as a freedom fighter.
Evey blows up parliament with V inside the train - freedom and justice.
Evey is no longer weak.
The public are there to make a stand and protect V.
Music gets more intense as the blowing up comes around and when the fireworks begin.
The public in the V/Guy Fawkes outfits march in a group, represents that they are all as one and all stick together - they're all in sync.
Message: Terrorism and violence makes you a freedom fighter. The cause of the terrorism is for freedom.

Conclusion:
Overall the film uses the themes of revolution, gender, religion, fascism and terrorism to express the values of a revolution and a message that calls the community to come together to stand up to their government. Although V is a terrorist, he is shown to be a freedom fighter that in the end everyone believes in; we know this by the ray of 'V's' that appear on the night of the houses of parliament being blown up - they are confiding and hiding V's true identity. One mans terrorism is another mans freedom; freedom is worth more than life to some people - they will even be willing to put their lives on the line for freedom (so they thought V done). V for Vendetta explores the fears and theories of 9/11, showing governments to use acts of terrorism to restrict civil rights and protests. It is a near future based film, it is a warning sign.