Noticed in Children of Men

Two links with reference to Children of Men today:

• Andrew’s (Gateway Cinephiles) review of Le voyage du ballon rouge (“Flight of the Red Balloon”): Describing Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien‘s cinematography and chronology in his first film outside of Asia, the reviewer refers briefly to Children of Men. “Flight” follows the red balloon and a French family through the eyes of a Chinese student. It is based on the 1956 short film Le ballon rouge by Albert Lamorisse.

The challenge inherent in them only becomes apparent later, a sort of quiet complement to Children of Men’s hold-your-breath set pieces. (Is it coincidence that a poster for Alfonso Cuarón’s science fiction thriller has a cameo here?) In Flight, these long takes lend the film a naturalism that sharpens its emotional power. Read more.

• Ksasaunders watched the film very carefully and recorded a number of interesting facts about the film.

The computer used in Jasper’s hideout to show the video feeds of intruders breaking in is an Apple Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh released in 1997. In this movie it would be 30 years old.

Theo never gets to finish smoking an entire cigarette throughout the film. Read more.