CHILDREN OF MEN: Ark of the Arts

From Alfonso Cuarón's film CHILDREN OF MEN.

This is a scene where Theo is being driven to meet his cousin Nigel, who is the curator of the "Ark of the Arts".

The Ark of the Arts is a government museum project wherein the Ministry of Arts is trying to collect & save major art pieces while the world collapses. Theo is visiting Nigel to ask for his help obtaining a transit pass to Bexhill for Julian and the Fishes.

So I just slapped this together from the Nordic Blu-ray release on my flatscreen. I recorded with a mounted point & shoot Fuji F31fd with mic audio. I cut out the dining table conversation to keep it under 3 minutes. I also did my own audio mix over the top ... as the camera didn't pick up the music well and the focus motor was clicking.

The song in this video is King Crimson's "The Court of the Crimson King". The same song is in the film at the same time but doesn't play out as long as I have it doing here.
http://www.amazon.com/Court-Crimson-King/dp/B00065MDRW

Notes:
Special effects house Double Negative created a composite shot of Theo's approach to the Ark of the Arts by pasting a bridge over the M3 roadway in Surrey in front of the Battersea Power Station.

The floating pig from the cover of the Pink Floyd album "Animals" can be seen when Theo's car enters the Ark, and later when Theo speaks to his cousin. The album took after George Orwell's 1945 novel "Animal Farm", and the film echoes many of the themes found in the book.

If you have never seen this film, you really ought to.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• children
• of
• men
• alfonso
• cauron
• king
• crimson
• animal
• farm
• pink
• floyd
• clive
• owen

[PanekPL]

Get rid of the lame King Crimson music and use Dogs, Pigs (Three Different Ones) or Sheep.

[damagexyz]

@PanekPL useless comment. please watch the fucking movie or don't, but FYI this scene's dialogue actually involves King Crimson. I don't suppose you can be arsed to actually watch the movie before being a keyboard hero.

[KennyYoung666]

Notice Pink Floyd's "Animals" pig up there in the sky by the Battersea Plant. That is sheer genius.!!!

[bayoubell1]

Scenes of this movie remind me of the OWS protests. One difference, the barren buy children on the black market.  These acts of women against women objectify children and have made them another capitalist product to be consumed.

[zaurtrien]

a masterpiece in everything, music, photography, direction, cinematography, etc...

[andeace23]

"You know what it is Theo? I just don't think about it." He just summed up modern day escapist society in one sentence. GENIUS.

[zaurtrien]

pink floyd's "animals" in the background

[panzercat39]

@panzercat39 Not to reply to my own post but yes I do realize that in the film Theo's cousin is named Nigel,in the book he was called Zan and was the main antagonist.I still like the film better than the book,but I really thought the film could and should had used Nigel/Zan in a more important role.

[panzercat39]

This is the scene that really hooked me on this movie,it is perfectly done.I love how different the world is behind the gates and the song fits so well.I watch it at least once a month,it is at the same time,touching, terrifying,and timeless(the 3 T's,if you will)the end never fails to make me squirt out a few tears,esp.when all the soldiers first see the baby. My only complaint would be that Zan(Theo's cousin)is not a central character,though it really does not take anything away from the film.

[connberkshire]

@MrJS15 This is easily one of the best films ever made; and I couldn't agree more- it's very much in Kubrick's style. This song really sets the tone for the Ark of the Arts scene (BTW- loved the PF Pig between the stacks of the Battersea Power Station)

[beelzabubba]

The nose emblem of the Bentley right at the beginning gives the scope of what is ahead... in the court of the Crimson King

[SunsetSideVet]

Another great Mexican director, another great Mexican Movie.

Cuaron hit so many levels of morality in this movie. The government elite, terrorism, immigration, and the future of the world itself.

It is a scary movie because it makes us look at ourselves, real look at ourselves.

Kudos Children of Men.

[HoppiTeam]

In The Court of Crimson King...