Children Of Men is the most powerful political statement film disguised as a sort of futuristic sci-fi thriller that I have seen since last year's brilliant yet under-appreciated V For Vendetta. Like V, Children Of Men is set in a futuristic, fascist version of London, England. The more "undesirable" segments of society are rounded up like dogs and led to internment and eventual death in concentration camps. Meanwhile, the resistance does its best to fight the good fight.

The difference here is that while V For Vendetta hits you over the head with the sort of black and white, good vs. evil scenario that it portrays, the oppressive world of Children Of Men is painted in far greyer shades. For instance, in this film you never see the government secretly plotting out its agenda against humanity, nor is any explanation for it — reasonable or otherwise — ever offered up.

Another thing that is never explained is how the world became an infertile one, which lies at the crux of the film's plot. Here again, where V For Vendetta's battle between a populist vigilante and an oppressive government paints things in absolute tones without room for ambiguity, even the resistance groups in Children Of Men seem to harbor hidden agendas of their own.

The year is 2027 and it has been at least a few decades since anyone has given birth to children. Theo Farrell (Clive Owen) is a burnt-out former political activist turned disillusioned alcoholic who is drafted into service for a resistance group called "the Fishers" — led by Julian (Julianne Moore), his girlfriend from that former life — when they kidnap him. His mission is to get the first pregnant woman, a "fugee" named Ki (who even looks a little like Lauryn Hill), to the safety of yet another underground group called "The Human Project."

Along the way, the audience is introduced to a number of interesting characters such as Micheal Caine's sympathetic pot-smoking pal, who comes off looking and sounding very much like how you would imagine John Lennon would have been in his twilight years. Not nearly as sympathetic is the white, dreadlocked guy with bad breath whose sole purpose in life seems to be to kill Theo and Ki.