Moxie Cinema Springfield, MO
Dr. Christopher Barnhart
Professor of Biology, Michigan State University
Children of Men— Birth Rates and Sexual Development
Program Description
A discussion about the social impact of declining birth rates, as well as pollutants that disrupt sexual development.
Presented At
Moxie Cinema Springfield, MO
Film Synopsis
In 2027, in a chaotic world in which women have become somehow infertile, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea.
It is the year 2027, and it has been 18 years since the last baby was born. Explosions erupt in cafes, surveillance cameras abound, armed guards roam the streets, and illegal immigrants are hauled into teeming refugee camps. Theo (Clive Owen), a jaded employee of the Ministry of Energy, tunes out the chaos that surrounds him, but finds his apolitical stance challenged by the reappearance of his former lover, Julian (Julianne Moore). Now the leader of an underground immigrant rights group, Julian pleads with Theo to help escort a young female refugee (Claire-Hope Ashitey) out of the country. After reluctantly agreeing to lend a hand, Theo discovers that the refugee is harboring a shocking, hopeful secret: she is pregnant. Adapted from the P. D. James novel of the same name, Children of Men was nominated for three Academy Awards.
About the Speaker
Dr. Christopher Barnhart is a professor of biology at Michigan State University. He has been teaching at MSU since 1991, and he does research on native freshwater mussels and other invertebrate animals.