Favorite Movies Countdown — No. 20

20. Children of Men (2006)

Starring: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, and Chiwetel Ejiofor

About: This was my pick as the best film of 2006. "The Departed" won the Academy Award for Best Picture that year, while "Children of Men" was largely overlooked. But in terms of story, performance, cinematic effect, and execution, this was my favorite. And it's one of my favorite films as well because it tells one of my favorite kinds of stories — about a man seeking redemption and faith.

We see through the film that it is an exploration of the importance of hope and faith as guiding principles. We see that through the character of Theo (Owen), who undergoes a radical change. And the inclusion of that theme is intentional. One site I looked at said, “Children of Men explores the themes of hope and faith in the face of overwhelming futility and despair.” P.D. James, author of the book upon which the film is based, believed that the future was key to the concept of hope. She said, “"It was reasonable to struggle, to suffer, perhaps even to die, for a more just, a more compassionate society, but not in a world with no future where, all too soon, the very words 'justice,' 'compassion,' 'society,’ 'struggle,' 'evil,' would be unheard echoes on an empty air."

Some Christians compare the story to the narrative of Jesus' birth in the Bible, and there are certainly some strong illusions to that. However, when I think of the film, I think more about how Theo's reaction to the world and events mirrors what faith can do in our own lives.

At the outset, Theo is lost, rudderless in a dying world. He doesn't believe in anything or anyone. Yet, somehow, he gets pulled into this quest to protect this pregnant girl — a miracle since the world has spent 18 years with no babies being born. He goes from a shallow, disconnected person to a man of principle and courage; someone willing to risk everything — including his own life — to protect this innocent life and get her to the scientists who hope to restore life to the world.

I think the film does hit on the centrality of the notion of hope as an essential element of humanity. If you think about 1 Corinthians chapter 13, one of the most famous passages in the Bible, it concludes with “These three remain, faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.” Hope is inextricably linked with faith and love. And being in a world that was dying would strip you of hope, which would probably create a lack of faith and a lack of compassion — a form of love.

That is the reason I included this film in the last round of Faith in Film, because I continue to be drawn to the story and the way hope and love work in the life of Theo, a most unlikely protagonist.

Director Alfonso Cuaron does a great job of telling the story and creating the world, and it's full of rich performances. I love Michael Caine, and he does well in a limited role here, as does Julianne Moore. Of course I think this film also features Owen's best performance.

Though the film was largely overlooked by critics, voters, and audiences, I think "Children of Men" was one of the biggest gems of the last decade.