Terrorism is one of the key themes in the film. We see how terrorism still effects London in the future, through the use of a street bomb in the beginning of the film. The character later goes on to state that it was the second one this month, imply terrorism has become more the the normality of the future society.
Bomb Sequence (Terrorism)
Technology
Technology links strongly with the media. It is through the advancements in technology that allows propaganda to be implemented into peoples lives. This shows us how a big part of our lives are controlled by technology. This becomes apparent in the film when the young man at the dinner table remains unresponsive to his father's demands. We also see it throughout the film in forms such as billboards and car warning systems.
Shows virtual banner and advertisement on building side (Technology)
Unresponsive to reality, due to technology (Technology)
Media / Excessive Control
As stated under the heading of technology, media is a strong form of control. In the film we see how it is used to portray the protagonists as terrorists. It is also used in convincing people that refugees in England are bad, and that any known refugees should be turned in. In this case it sets the correct norms and values of society. An example of excessive control in the film is the riot shield police surrounding the caged immigrants.
Television on the train, stating that any foreigners that the public know should be reported to the authorities. Gives the impression that England is the only country not to be gripped by despair. (Media / Control)
Line of officers surrounding foreigners (Excessive control)
Holocaust
The audience can relate various aspects of the film to the holocaust. The police/guards are dressed in black, conveying negativity and resemblance to nazi soldiers during world war II. The caging of immigrants can be linked to the concentration camps where many groups and cultures of people were discriminated against. With a reference to the holocaust makes the audience see the future of London as very negative and a totalitarian society.
Concentration camps (Holocaust)
Nazi like guards (Holocaust)
Protagonist getting filtered through the control system at the encampment for immigrants (Concentration camp)
Corruption / Betrayal
With society functioning in a dystopian future, we see how the actions of people have changed. It soon becomes apparent there is a lot more corruption and betrayal towards others. A good reference to this idea is the phrase "desperate times call for desperate measures". This is conveyed in the film through the corruption of the boarder guard sid and the betrayal of Luke and his terrorist labelled organisation.
Sid The Boarder Guard (Corruption)
Luke's organisation for equal rights for immigrants (Betrayal)
Rebellion / Uprising / Protest
In the film there are several forms of rebellion; there are protests in the streets, people on the outskirts of the city who attack passers by and even organisations which have been established to return the equal rights of foreigners in the United Kingdom. They are all in the hope to communicate a message to the people to rise up, or to the government to change their ways. With this much rebellion conveys a bleak future where excessive control is used. It also shows the audience that this can be the result of conformity, forming the idea of reality foreshadowing.
Rebels on the outskirts of the city (Rebellion)
Protesters (Protest)
Riot in the Bexhill encampment (Uprising)
Poverty
The film can also be seen to show the division of class in the future. There is a sequence in the film which captures the protagonists car journey from a location stricken by poverty, to one of wealth. In this sense we can relate this to specific areas of London but not yet to the extreme portrayed in the film.
Different areas of London (Poverty)
Hope
A message that can be taken from the film is that there is always hope. In the dystopian like future where no one can give birth, there is one woman who is able, giving the protagonist and the rest of the world hope. As well as a tool to drive the plot forward it abolishes all ideas towards giving up and gives Theo hope towards a better future.
Showing the pregnancy of Kee (Hope)
Fear
Fear is an emotion that follows some of the characters through the film. It is seen on the faces of the caged refugees and on Theo following the death of the people he knows. It conveys a message to the audience that only when we are rid of fear can we continue to succeed.
Theo cowering against a tree after the death of Julian (Fear)
War
War in the film shows conflict between the foreigners and the military. The effects of the war is shown with dead bodies and people severely wounded. However, when it is discovered that Kee has a baby a common ground is established between the military and the rebels. Both sides understand that they need to put aside there differences momentarily to ensure her safe escape. This brings about the message that sometimes we need to think about the greater good.
War zone outside rebel controlled structure (War)
Seize fire from both parties after Kee's baby is revealed (Humanity / Common Ground)
V for Vendetta Direct Link
When Miriam is taken from the bus at Bexhill, she is stood with other foreigners. Like in V for Vendetta she has a black bag put over her (Mr Creedy's black bags). This reveals to the audience that Miriam has been targeted by the officers and she is being kept in a state of darkness. IN V for Vendetta we understand that no one returns after they have been bagged by Creedy and his men, similar of that in Children of Men when we are left to presume the worst as the bus drives away.
Miriam at the Bexhill facility (Reference to V for Vendetta)
Symbolism
When Kee is about to give birth she is taken to a derelict decaying building for some shelter. She is taken to a room by a frail woman with a lantern. With this scenario in mind it contains various religious aspects, bearing similar features to that of the nativity story. Mary is taken to a stable because there is no room at the inn. It acts as a way of reinforcing the idea of new life in the world, a new start, Hence the birth of Christ.