The document provides analysis of various scenes and elements from the film Children of Men. It examines the opening scene and how lighting, framing, camera angles, costumes, and mise-en-scene establish the setting and tone. It analyzes the use of an uncut tracking shot to build tension and establish the dystopian setting. Sound design is discussed, like the ringing used to transition between scenes. Character analysis looks at the protagonist and his dreary workplace. Propaganda and camerawork on a train advance the narrative by showing a collapsing world. The character's meeting with Michael Caine offers insights into their differing views. Expectations are that the sci-fi/thriller genre film will involve protecting the only pregnant woman in

1. Describe the opening sound of the film and the first impressions of the
opening shot? What impression is created by lighting, framing, camera
angle, costume, music and mise en scene?
You can see from the facial expression from these
people is telling the audience that it a world terror
event this link to 9/11. This could be in the morning
rush hour but as everyone is stable and not moving
and this also tells the audience that there is something
serious is happen. Also the opening sound is non
diegetic. This genre is a combination of Sci-Fi and of
thriller. However you the camera follow the main
character outside where he put alcohol into his coffee
and then suddenly a bomb goes off. However when
the main character goes into work you hear the new
still talking about the death of this child and not of the
bomb going off in a café. This is telling the audience
how much the world has changed. The camera angle
is at a lower angle when they look at the crowd of
people of showing the innocent. The costume that the
characters are quite dull and no bright colours. This is
showing the main boredom of these extras and of the
main character. Because he isn’t an upbeat character
who cares about the death of this boy. He dislikes him
and just what to get on in life.

2. Explain the use of the uncut shot which continues from the opening shot to
the title. Why has the director chosen to use it? What does it establish
about the setting? Describe details of the setting which communicate
important points.
The director chose this to build up to the title. For example when the bomb when off then a
blackout and then there was the title it builds the climax up for the audience. Another reason
why the director used uncut shot and you could only hear sound in the background is to explain to
the audience that the scene are to disturbing for the audience to see. But I think an even more
disturbing point is in the next scene when he goes into work even though a bomb gone off and
has acted not natural about the incident. However I think it build up the climax to the title and it
can also convey a lot of emotion this is the use of non diegetic sound. It also building the setting
for the audience and is showing them what kind of a world we could live in.

3. Explain the effect of the ringing sound linking the end of the tracking shot
and the change of scene to the character entering his place of work.
The camera movement after the explosion was hand held. This is show by the tracking shot.
However it is hand held and it moving toward a character who has been fatally injured by
the explosion. The reason the camera is hand held is to show the panic and seriousness of
the situation. However when the main character enter the office there a panning shot of
him. Plus the setting is much calmer and more relaxed. The non diegetic sound in the scene
of high pitch ringing is to enthesis of the aftershock of the explosion. However this non
diegetic sound effect for high pitch ringing is used to move in to a different scene. Because
the director uses it as a telephone ringing instead of the ringing from the explosion. I know
this because the first word that you hear in the next scene is “hello”. And a lady picking up a
phone. It also show the audience a different environment on how the camera moves and
how the people act.

4. Describe the character- is he a traditional hero? What does the mise en
scene suggest about his place of work? Notice the characters around him
there and refer to the way they are portrayed. How is his manager
portrayed- how does the setting of his office contribute to this?
The manager is a dull character who isn’t an enthusiastic team leader. You can see this by his age
and by the fact that he doesn’t talk in the scene. Plus you can see he is a character who doesn’t
care about what is going on you can see this by the mid shot and you seeing his facial expression.
The mise en scene in this scene is showing the manager enjoys cricket shown by the use of props
in this scene it also tell the audience about his character that he is a man who like the main
character dislikes his job. Also the mise en scene in the work place is dull and boring and this is
shown by the lighting and the close of the characters facial expression. However I think the main
character is a character who cares more about the people and the world he lives in then the
death of one person who got famous by being able to have children. You see this by the
explosion in London and the main character wanting to go home not to morn the death of the
celebrity getting killed but all the innocent civilians getting killed.

5. How does the propaganda video on the trail contribute to the narrative?
Explain how the character’s state of mind is communicated on the train?
How does the camerawork and mise en scene contribute to this?
The close up shot of the television screen saying tat all the
country have collapsed and Britain is the country that hasn’t
given in. This links to narrative by global effect except Britain.
The lighting of the set is bleak this tells the audience that the
world that this character is living in is not pleasant. As for can
see in the screen of people throwing this at the train. Also you
can tell by the characters facial expression. The close up shot of
the television screen saying that all the country has collapsed
and Britain is the country that hasn’t given in. This links to
narrative by global effect except Britain. The lighting of the set
is bleak this tells the audience that the world that this
character is living in is not pleasant. As for can see in the
screen of people throwing this at the train. Also you can tell by
the characters facial expression. There is a low camera angle
and panning camera shot of the people who are throwing thing
at the train. The reason for this is they are f lower status in the
world this is why they have that certain angle.

6. Describe the use of camerawork as the character leaves the train. How does
this contribute to the narrative- what is the director’s intention?
The camerawork is a tracking shot of the
character when you gets off the train. Then
there is subjective camera movement this is
where the camera moves from one
character to another. Also the camera angle
is lower when they go to the old lady and
the is showing that she has not as much
power then the main character this is due to
freedom as for the old lady has no power
because she is an immigrate who is being
deported. The reason why the director did
this was to show the level of status and
power that that the characters have in the
scene. For example the old lady has a low
level of power because if the lower camera
angle and them showing that she lower
status then the main character than the
main character. It links to narrative by the
world collapsing and there are too many
people in Britain. And the people in cases
are being deported.

7. Describe the character he meets on arrival- what do the new character’s
appearance suggest about him and his place in the world of the film?
The two character that the main characters here have different views on the world. Michael
Caine is a character who is against the government and what they are doing. He also suggest
that the government planted the bomb at the cafe that the main character(Theo) was at. You
can tell this by the mise en scene. What I mean by mise en scene is everything that you can
see in the shot. So when I mean Michael Caine character (Jasper) being against the
government and you can tell by the mise en scene is the costume that the character wears and
the prop that he uses. Because he look like a hippy and he dislike the government but he
doesn’t dislike them in a violent fashion. As for Theo’s Boss he is in favour of the government
because he trying to live a normal life and forget about the negative thing that are going on.
You see this by the mise en scene and his costume is formal. Another thing that show him that
show that he is on the government side is that he is at work as for Michael Caine (Jasper) isn’t
in employment. This could be another factor to show his rejection to government authority.

8. What do we learn about the Michael Caine character from the images of his
work?
Michael Caine is a character who is knowledgeable however he is a character who isn’t a formal
character like the main character’s boss. Michael Caine is a hippy character you can tell this by
the mise en scene of this shot. Because the main prop that is used in this scene is weed. The
costume of Michael Caine what hippy wore during the Vietnam war. The reason why the director
chose these props and costume for this certain character was to show the rejection of violence
and aggression of the government. Which link to the costume and props that are used in this
scene. However the camera angle in the scene between these two character suggest that the
main character has more power. Because the camera angle tilt upward when the camera focused
on him and it tilts downward when it on Michael Caine.

9. What has the pace of edits been like up to this point and to what effect?
There have been a range of edit from shot to shot and from scene to scene. But the main
edit that has been used is jump cuts and reverse shots. Reverse shot are usually use
when there are characters interacting with one another. The reason for the reverse shot
is to show how the characters react when one of the characters are speaking. This
happen when the main character Theo when he was speaking to his boss. They used
jump cut at the start of the film between the cafe exploding and then when you see the
title “Children of Men.” Then when he has arrived at work. The reason why the director
might have used this type of fast pace editing is to get the audience attention to what is
going on. Fade is a type of editing that is used at the end of a scene this will tell the
audience that the scene is over and it moving on to another scene. It can also be used at
the start of a scene to tell the audience that the scene has just started.

10. What genre of film do you think this is and why? What elements of this
genre are apparent? Does the film have any links to other texts?
The genre of this film is a science fiction thriller. It takes on a scientific role were the females
in sociality are unable to have children in the future . However there is this one female who
does have a child and the main character Theo has to protect her from danger. This is the
thrilling part of the film to see if the character are able to survive. There are other film texts
as well as science fiction and thriller. It also contain action. Because during the time it set
there are terrorists trying to over throw the government. However they find out that the
main female character called Kee has a child and they go after her. However Theo tries to
protect her and there a certain amount of violence which takes place to protect her.

11. What are your expectations of the narrative and why?
The narrative of the film is a man names Theo and it set in the future were all the females
in the world are unable to have children. The film start with non diegetic sound of a new
reporter saying that the youngest person on the planet has died. But you can tell that the
film will be a thriller by the us of editing. For example a jump cut was used between the
explosion in the cafe at and the main character (Theo) going to work. This was at the start
of the film. The reason for jump cut is to get the audience attention. The director also did
this with diegetic sound of the explosion going off. The start of the film is quite slow pace
because there is no action and the mise en scene suggest that the scene aren’t attractive
show by the lighting. However there is a small amount of action at the start of the film
explaining some of the narrative. This is when the explosion goes off at the cafe.

12. By Laurence Bunney