The long shot, high-angle at the beginning that lasts over 15 seconds is a point of view of a point of view shot as the audience is watching them watching something else. This allows us to detect the seriousness on their face. Viewers can sense something’s wrong. The point of view shot then followed is used to allow audiences to absorb the information in and also have empathy with the news. The tracking and long shot has been used to allow the audience to identify themselves with the protagonist of the film. When this is used on the protagonists back, the camera goes around the shop, without him on camera but then pans to him. The 180 degree shot has been used to engage the audience because the audience becomes more emotionally involved as it creates mystery. The camera goes around the shop to emphasise the mise en scene. The camera work becomes unsteady and shaky suggesting that a handheld camera is used. The shakiness of the camera increases realism and shows that the situation is no longer calm. It creates mystery and tension. Viewers are left wondering if the protagonist is a man hunted. For an opening scene to consist of just 3 shots is different to many other films. The shots have deliberately been made longer for the audience to absorb the information. The way in which the camera tracks the protagonist out of the coffee shop but loses him on the camera yet pans across to him is done differently because the director could have simply cut as soon as the protagonist was off scene rather than pan over.
Sound
The diegetic use of the news broadcast acts as a narrator for the film plot. The director has chosen this way to inform the audience of what’s happening before the scene even begins. The diegetic sound of the cars and engines are used by the directors to give the film a sense of realism because it’s most common sound heard by people every day whether they’re on the way to the shops, work or college therefore, it reinforces the feel of every day life. The non-diegetic sound of the violins plays soft, sad music and reflects the sad news and puts the viewer in a sympathetic and touched mood. The diegetic sound of the bomb exploding is followed by diegetic sounds of shrieks and screams which sends an urgent message across to the audience conveying that something isn’t right. These sounds connote danger, alert and tension.
Editing
The editing is linear; there are not many cuts in the opening apart from one where the camera focuses on the news bulletin in the coffee shop. There are only 3 shots; 1 long shot, 1 point of view shot and 1 tracking shot. It represents a sense of continuity possibly suggesting the problem is on going and never ending. It gives it that sense of tension of mystery as well. The pace is fairly slow until the protagonist walks out of the coffee shop and the bomb explodes. The pace gets quicker at these points.
Mise en scene
The mise en scene is very crowded and cramped as everyone is gathered in one tiny coffee shop. The viewer wouldn’t expect to see so many people standing gathered in a coffee shop which implies something worrying, urgent and not quite right is happening. There are many different people in the shop. For example, a couple, grandmother, policemen, black men, working class etc. The city has been made busy with buses and bikes riding by in London. People usually grab a coffee before they head off to work in the morning and as everyone is gathered in the coffee shop, it implies it is morning time as well as the chaotic busy streets outside suggesting rush hour. Also, one of the extra’s in the coffee shop vaguely looks down at their watch as if checking the time because they’re either already late or going to be late for work. The text says the current date of the day in the film ‘...2027’ which allows the audience to establish we are in the future. The sense of London has been brought across very well to the audience because the red buses that are passing by on the streets are typical of representing the London city.
Characters
The opening scene shows a man who clearly seems to be the main protagonist as the camera tracks him a lot. However, he isn’t definitely the protagonist of the film because he doesn’t fit the expectations fully of a hero. He not only drinks coffee and alcohol together first thing in the morning, but when the bomb explodes he backs away when a “hero” is expected to help the old lady near the explosion. Furthermore, when everyone is gathered in the coffee shop, they’re engaged by the news however, the protagonist walks in, orders his coffee and walks straight back out without a care.
Locations
Mise en scene
The mise en scene is very crowded and cramped as everyone is gathered in one tiny coffee shop. The viewer wouldn’t expect to see so many people standing gathered in a coffee shop which implies something worrying, urgent and not quite right is happening. There are many different people in the shop. For example, a couple, grandmother, policemen, black men, working class etc. The city has been made busy with buses and bikes riding by in London. People usually grab a coffee before they head off to work in the morning and as everyone is gathered in the coffee shop, it implies it is morning time as well as the chaotic busy streets outside suggesting rush hour. Also, one of the extra’s in the coffee shop vaguely looks down at their watch as if checking the time because they’re either already late or going to be late for work. The text says the current date of the day in the film ‘...2027’ which allows the audience to establish we are in the future. The sense of London has been brought across very well to the audience because the red buses that are passing by on the streets are typical of representing the London city.
Characters
The opening scene shows a man who clearly seems to be the main protagonist as the camera tracks him a lot. However, he isn’t definitely the protagonist of the film because he doesn’t fit the expectations fully of a hero. He not only drinks coffee and alcohol together first thing in the morning, but when the bomb explodes he backs away when a “hero” is expected to help the old lady near the explosion. Furthermore, when everyone is gathered in the coffee shop, they’re engaged by the news however, the protagonist walks in, orders his coffee and walks straight back out without a care.
Locations
The opening scene is predominantly filmed in the coffee shop where the news is announced. The next location is outside where the bomb explodes.
Narrative/plot The beginning of the opening of ‘children of men’ tells the story and gives insight on the issue. It seems like a documentary type of film. It’s 2027 on 16th Nov’ and due to the chemical war/virus, women are being represented as infertile. The concept of female infertility is used as a "metaphor for the fading sense of hope" in the film. The future is represented as destructed, dark, depressing and not stable to live in long term as the news bulletin is alarming and sad. It informs the world that the youngest human has died at 18 years of age.
Themes
Infertility, pregnancy, terrorism, destruction, religion, hope, loneliness, loss.
Visual style
The visual style is unique in the sense that it’s narrative based in the beginning so the story is being told as the credits roll. However, the text and font is displayed in a simplistic way with white text on a black background. The director uses a series of mid shots but the most significant shot used is the continuous shot as it lasts 50 seconds. This is rarely done due to the hard work it takes as it's difficult to get right.
Genre
It falls into the ‘Thriller’ category as it portrays intensity when the camera only shows the protagonists back, tracks him, the bomb explodes and the screams are heard plus many more. This is the same for the genre of ‘Mystery’ because we currently have no idea who this man is, what his role is and whether or not he’s hunted or wanted. We are oblivious as to why the bomb has been set off or if it was deliberate or not. As the news informs the audience of the science of the future, one of the genre’s I feel it falls into is ‘Science’ and also ‘Technology’ as advanced technologies are shown in the opening. This ties in with the genre of ‘Survival’ because the world will not be able to survive unless the environment is cared for or if women are somehow made fertile again. Another genre it can fall into is 'Action' due to the bomb explosion. The audience expects more of this type of event to happen again.
Narrative/plot The beginning of the opening of ‘children of men’ tells the story and gives insight on the issue. It seems like a documentary type of film. It’s 2027 on 16th Nov’ and due to the chemical war/virus, women are being represented as infertile. The concept of female infertility is used as a "metaphor for the fading sense of hope" in the film. The future is represented as destructed, dark, depressing and not stable to live in long term as the news bulletin is alarming and sad. It informs the world that the youngest human has died at 18 years of age.
Themes
Infertility, pregnancy, terrorism, destruction, religion, hope, loneliness, loss.
Visual style
The visual style is unique in the sense that it’s narrative based in the beginning so the story is being told as the credits roll. However, the text and font is displayed in a simplistic way with white text on a black background. The director uses a series of mid shots but the most significant shot used is the continuous shot as it lasts 50 seconds. This is rarely done due to the hard work it takes as it's difficult to get right.
Genre
It falls into the ‘Thriller’ category as it portrays intensity when the camera only shows the protagonists back, tracks him, the bomb explodes and the screams are heard plus many more. This is the same for the genre of ‘Mystery’ because we currently have no idea who this man is, what his role is and whether or not he’s hunted or wanted. We are oblivious as to why the bomb has been set off or if it was deliberate or not. As the news informs the audience of the science of the future, one of the genre’s I feel it falls into is ‘Science’ and also ‘Technology’ as advanced technologies are shown in the opening. This ties in with the genre of ‘Survival’ because the world will not be able to survive unless the environment is cared for or if women are somehow made fertile again. Another genre it can fall into is 'Action' due to the bomb explosion. The audience expects more of this type of event to happen again.
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