Topic > A cinematic analysis in Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men

But this is not the only notable use of the camera in the film, the positioning of the camera plays a vital role in the perception of the scene. Replacing camera cuts with long shots adds realism and a sense of space to the image; wherever the camera moves is where the kingdom exists, and even beyond. A good example of this is again the bar scene at the beginning of the film. As Theo exits the store, the camera follows him and pans across the city much like a person walking out and staring at every detail, similar to how a viewer would if placed in the film. Then the camera pans to what Theo is doing instead of focusing on his face, once again simulating how a person would react. After the explosion, the camera runs towards the aftermath and shows the destruction. The entire sequence shows how the director chose to position the camera from the point of view of a person following Theo, i.e. the viewer. Another result of this is the feeling of real time, of knowing exactly how much time has passed since Theo left the shop and not missing anything that happened in that moment.