Melodrama against the State: Children of Men's Unimaginable Tomorrow

Melodrama against the State: Children of Men is a film that explores the intersection of melodrama and political resistance. The film takes place in a dystopian future where a global infertility pandemic threatens the survival of humanity. The story follows Theo, Kee, and her baby as they navigate a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quarterly review of film and video 2024-11, Vol.41 (8), p.1536-1559
Main Author: Blyn, Robin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Dystopias
Film studies
Melodramas
Motion picture criticism
Political violence
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Melodrama against the State: Children of Men is a film that explores the intersection of melodrama and political resistance. The film takes place in a dystopian future where a global infertility pandemic threatens the survival of humanity. The story follows Theo, Kee, and her baby as they navigate a dangerous world filled with violence and oppression. The film uses melodramatic tropes to critique the power of the centralized nation-state and the limitations of traditional family structures. It suggests that the future depends on the remaking of both the nation-state and the heteronormative family. While the film does not explicitly offer a vision of an alternative political formation, it implies that a world without borders and a reimagined concept of kinship are necessary for a better future. The film's use of melodrama highlights the tension between the desire for change and the limitations of what can be imagined.
ISSN:1050-9208
1543-5326
DOI:10.1080/10509208.2023.2219595