History TearJerker / ChildrenOfMen

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/children_of_men_tearjerker.png]]

* Miriam getting pulled off the bus in Bexhill, sacrificing herself to a brutal fate of terror, assault, and likely death, if the way the guards pull that execution bag over her head is anything to go by, all make a distraction long enough to get Kee off the bus. The whole entry into Bexhill scene can blur into NightmareFuel, especially if you know your modern history.

* Human civilization breaking down into complete anarchy, with the explicit implication that Great Britain may be the only "functioning" nation remaining. One scene has Theo's colleagues having gotten back from the Louvre in Paris, recovering the remains of Michaelangelo and cobbling the remaining pieces of him together but reporting that the Pieta had been desecrated beyond recognition. Theo knows that these efforts to preserve what remains of their culture holds no meaning anymore, and asks his cousin what keeps him going.

* As the film climaxes, the British government and the refugees begin a full-scale war, but the fighting briefly comes to a halt when the fighting refugees and soldiers, for the first time in eighteen years, hear the sound of a crying baby. Everything goes still. All the soldiers and Fishes and refugees stop fighting. Total silence in the warzone as soldiers part to let the baby through, several of them dropping to their knees and making the sign of the cross. Once they're free of the building, someone fires a shot and [[BlastOut fighting resumes]] in a viscerally realistic way.

* As the film climaxes, the British government and the refugees begin a full-scale war, but the fighting briefly comes to a halt [[spoiler: when the fighting refugees and soldiers, for the first time in eighteen years, hear the sound of a crying baby. Everything goes still. All the soldiers and Fishes and refugees stop fighting. Total silence in the warzone as soldiers part to let the baby through, several of them dropping to their knees and making the sign of the cross. Once they're free of the building, someone fires a shot and [[BlastOut fighting resumes]] in a viscerally realistic way.]]

*** While this is going on, [[spoiler:there is a woman with a clearly fatal stomach wound, and what is she doing? Singing to calm the baby down.]]

* Jasper's poor wife. She was a famous political journalist, put into a a catatonic state from [[spoiler:[=MI5=] torturing her]]. The scene where Jasper says goodbye to her is done beautifully and tragically.
* [[spoiler:Jasper's death. He gets shot by the Fishes. Theo's reaction is full of a mix of sorrow and anger at seeing his only friend being killed in cold blood.]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Theo:''' ''You tell me the fucking reason in that.'']]
* [[spoiler:Julian's death and funeral, with Miriam tenderly laying her to rest in the forest under a burial shroud.]]
** [[spoiler: As Miriam is performing the rites]], Theo steps behind a tree to smoke a cigarette. Before he can even light it, he breaks slumps down against the tree and breaks into quiet tears of despair. Creator/CliveOwen portrays it so realistically that it's hard not to cry with him.

* Miriam [[spoiler: getting pulled off the bus in Bexhill, sacrificing herself to a brutal fate of terror, assault, and likely death, if the way the guards pull that execution bag over her head is anything to go by, all make a distraction long enough to get Kee off the bus.]] The whole entry into Bexhill scene can blur into NightmareFuel, especially if you know your modern history.

* Luke, [[spoiler: the resident BigBad, is holed up in the building facing off with British soldiers. He starts crying for the baby, saying that he had forgotten how small and beautiful they are, and when desperately holding his gun on Theo, he's told that the baby is a girl. He then confesses to Theo about how he ''once'' had a sister. It becomes clear just how scared he is, and seems to be a brief HeelRealisation for him, as if it occurs to him that he can't remember exactly when he became a [[KnightTemplar violent terrorist]]. It gives you the sense that he probably joined the Fishes with [[WellIntentionedExtremist good intentions]] and then became increasingly ruthless over the years without realizing it.]]
-->[[spoiler:'''Luke:''' A girl... I had a sister.]]
* Marishka leaving Theo and Kee in the boat while Theo implores for her to come with them, and she refuses, [[spoiler:only for the audience to see a fleet of jet fighters fly overhead towards Bexhill moments later as soon as Theo and Kee row away out of the camp.]]

* Luke, [[spoiler: the resident BigBad, is holed up in the building facing off with British soldiers. He starts crying for the baby, saying that he had forgotten how small and beautiful they are, and when desperately holding his gun on Theo, he's told that the baby is a girl. He then confesses to Theo about how he ''once'' had a sister. It becomes clear just how scared he is, and seems to be a brief HeelRealisation for him, as if it occurs to him that he can't remember when he became a [[KnightTemplar violent, ruthless terrorist]].]]

* Luke, [[spoiler: the resident BigBad, is holed up in the building facing off with British soldiers. He starts crying for the baby, saying that he had forgotten how small and beautiful they are, and when desperately holding his gun on Theo, he's told that the baby is a girl. He then confesses to Theo about how he ''once'' had a sister. It becomes clear just how scared he is, and seems to be a brief HeelRealisation for him, [[as if it occurs to him that he can't remember when he became a [[KnightTemplar violent, ruthless terrorist]].]]

* Luke, [[spoiler: the resident BigBad, is holed up in the building facing off with British soldiers. He starts crying for the baby, saying that he had forgotten how small and beautiful they are, and when desperately holding his gun on Theo, he's told that the baby is a girl. He then confesses to Theo about how he ''once'' had a sister. It becomes clear just how scared he is, and seems to be a brief HeelRealisation for him, almost as if he can't figure out when he became a KnightTemplar terroist who kills innocents in cold blood.]]

* Jasper's poor wife.She was a famous political journalistic, put into a a catatonic state from [[spoiler:[=MI5=] tortured her]]. The scene where Jasper says goodbye to her is done beautifully and tragically.

-->[[spoiler:'''Theo.''' ''You tell me the fucking reason in that.'']]

* Marishka leaving Theo and Kee in the boat while Theo implores for her to come with them and she refuses, [[spoiler:only for the audience to see a fleet of jet fighters fly overhead towards Bexhill moments later as soon as Theo and Kee row away out of the camp.]]

* And at the end, [[spoiler:fighter planes flying overhead, with firebombs being rained down over Bexhill...]]
* Marishka leaving Theo and Kee in the boat while Theo implores for her to come with them and she refuses, [[spoiler:only for the audience to see the jet fighers fly overhead towards Bexhill moments later as soon as Theo and Kee row away out of the camp.]]

* Luke, [[spoiler: the resident BigBad, is holed up in the shelter facing off with British soldiers. He starts crying for the baby, and when desperately holding his gun on Theo, he's told that the baby is a girl. He then confesses to Theo about how he ''once'' had a sister. It becomes clear just how scared he is, and seems to be a brief HeelRealisation for him, almost as if he can't figure out when he became a KnightTemplar terroist who kills innocents in cold blood.]]

-->[[spoiler:"You tell me the fucking reason in that."]]

* The death of "Baby Diego," the world's youngest person at a mere eighteen years of age; stabbed to death all because ''he refused to sign an autograph.'' Even worse, he was the last known child born into the world; the image of dozens of people mourning all over the city, crying at work and laying down flowers at makeshift memorial sites is what sets the tone for the entire film.
* The scene of Theo and Kee stopping to rest at an abandoned school, with Kee sitting on a swing set. It is likely that every single school in the world has met this same fate, complete with the remains of childhood innocence that are quietly fading into alien notions.

-->'''Nigel:''' ''I just don't think about it.''
* Miriam getting pulled off the bus in Bexhill, sacrificing herself to a brutal fate of torture, assault, and possibly death at the hands of the guards, all to save Kee. The whole entry into Bexhill scene can blur into NightmareFuel, especially if you know your modern history.
* Luke, the resident BigBad, is holed up in the shelter facing off with British soldiers. He starts crying for the baby, and when desperately holding his gun on Theo, he's told that the baby is a girl. He then confesses to Theo about how he ''once'' had a sister. It becomes clear just how scared he is, and seems to be a brief HeelRealisation for him, almost as if he can't figure out when he became a KnightTemplar terroist who kills innocents in cold blood.
-->'''Luke:''' A girl... I had a sister.

** She was underground, though, so if she didn't immediately head back to the surface, there's a decent chance she survived. Unless the government came in afterwards to "mop up" the survivors, of course...

** [[spoiler: As Miriam is performing the rites]], Theo steps behind a tree to smoke a cigarette. Before he can even light it, he breaks slumps down against the tree and breaks into quiet tears of despair. Creator/CliveOwen portrays it so realistically that it's hard not to cry with him.]]

* Marishka leaving Theo and Kee in the boat while Theo implores for her to come with them [[spoiler:only to see the jet fighers fly overhead towards Bexhill moments later as the two of them row away.]]

* Also, earlier in front of the same apartment building, the army shooting a group of civilians walking out with a white flag.
* Jasper's poor wife, who is in a catatonic state because [[spoiler:[=MI5=] tortured her]]. The scene where Jasper says goodbye to her is done while a sad songs plays.
* [[spoiler:Jasper's death. He gets shot by the Fishes. Theo's reaction?]]

* [[spoiler:Julian's death and funeral.]]
** [[spoiler:As Miriam is performing the rites]], Theo steps behind a tree to smoke a cigarette. Before he can even light it, he breaks into quiet tears of despair. Creator/CliveOwen portrays it so realistically that it's hard not to cry with him.
* The death of "Baby Diego", the world's youngest person at a mere eighteen years of age; all because ''he refused to sign an autograph''. Even worse, he was the last known child born into the world; the image of dozens of people mourning over the news of his death is what sets the tone for the entire film.

* Human civilization breaking down into complete anarchy, with the explicit implication that Great Britain may be the only "functioning" nation remaining. One scene has Theo's colleagues having gotten back from the Louvre in Paris, recovering the remains of Michaelangelo but reporting that the Pieta had been desecrated beyond recognition. Theo knows that these efforts to preserve what remains of their culture holds no meaning anymore.
* Miriam getting pulled off the bus in Bexhill... The whole entry into Bexhill scene can be this blurring into NightmareFuel, especially if you know your modern history.
* Luke, the resident BigBad, is holed up in the shelter facing off with British soldiers. He starts crying for the baby, and when desperately holding his gun on Theo, he's told that the baby is a girl. He then confesses to Theo about how he remembered his beautiful baby sister. It becomes clear just how scared he is, and seems to be a brief HeelRealisation for him, like he can't figure out when he became a KnightTemplar terroist who kills innocents in cold blood.
-->'''Luke:''' I had a sister...
* And at the end, [[spoiler:fighter planes flying overhead, with fireballs over Bexhill...]]
* Marishka leaving Theo and Kee in the boat [[spoiler:only for everything to explode moments later]].

** Making the scene particularly memorable and heart-wrenching was the incredibly human reactions of the refugees and the soldiers. The refugees - of all races, colors, and creeds - were letting it all out, crying and rejoicing at the same time. The soldiers, meanwhile, mostly stare at the baby with silent amazement. A few get down on their knees to pray. A couple try to hide tears with sniffles. Another guy looks on completely oblivious to his commander squawking on the radio. And yet it seemed as though every one of them was saying "Oh God. Our lives were ''not'' wasted." A great performance by the movie's "extras".
*** While this is going on, [[spoiler:there is a woman with a clearly fatal stomach wound, and what is she doing? Singing to calm the baby down]].
** That scene with [[spoiler:the soldiers]] is all the more awful because of what happens a few seconds later. [[spoiler:Someone from the building starts shooting, the spell is broken, and as Theo and Kee run for their lives the soldiers obliterate the building in a hail of bullets]].

* As the film climaxes, the British government and the refugees begin a full-scale war, but the fighting briefly comes to a halt [[spoiler: when the fighting refugees and soldiers, for the first time in eighteen years, hear the sound of a crying baby. Everything goes still. All the soldiers and Fishes stop fighting. Total silence in the warzone as soldiers part to let the baby through, several of them dropping to their knees and making the sign of the cross. Once they're free of the building, someone fires a shot and [[BlastOut fighting resumes]] in a viscerally realistic way.]]

* As the film climaxes, the British government and the refugees begin a full-scale war, but the fighting briefly comes to a halt [[spoiler: when the fighting refugees and soldiers, for the first time in eighteen years, hear the sound of a crying baby. Full stop. All the soldiers and Fishes stop fighting. Total silence in the warzone as soldiers part to let the baby through, several of them dropping to their knees and making the sign of the cross. Once they're free of the building, someone fires a shot and [[BlastOut fighting resumes]] in a viscerally realistic way.]]

** While this is going on, [[spoiler:there is a woman with a clearly fatal stomach wound and what is she doing? Singing to calm the baby down]].

* [[spoiler:Jasper's death.]]

* Jasper's poor wife, who is in a catatonic state because [[spoiler:[=MI5=] tortured her]].

* Also earlier in front of the same apartment building; the army shooting a group of civilians walking out with a white flag.

* Luke holed up in the shelter facing off with British soldiers. His confession to Theo about how he remembered his beautiful baby sister. Said in a tone like he wondered how he ended up a KnightTemplar with multiple bodycounts.
-->'''Luke:''' I had a sister...

* Marishka leaving Theo and Kee in the boat only for everything to explode moments later.

* Miriam getting pulled off the bus in Bexhill...
** The whole entry into Bexhill scene can be this blurring into HighOctaneNightmareFuel, especially if you know your modern history.

** The whole entry into Bexhill scene can be this bluring into HighOctaneNightmareFuel, especially if you know your modern history.