The Use of Point of View in Children of Men

This article examines the use of point of view in the film “Children of Men”. The author discusses the three most common points of view used in film: first person, third person, and omniscient. They then analyze a specific shot from the film, which uses both first person and third person point of view.

Questions

• What are the three most common points of view used in film?
• How do first person and third person point of view differ?
• How is point of view used in the shot from “Children of Men”?

Answers

• The three most common points of view used in film are first person, third person, and omniscient.
• First person point of view is when the viewer is the most involved in the scene. They are essentially a character in the film. Third person point of view is when the viewer is an observer of the scene. They are not a character in the film, but they are watching the action unfold. Omniscient point of view is when the viewer has a god-like view of the scene. They can see everything that is happening, even things that the characters cannot see.
• In the shot from “Children of Men”, the point of view changes from first person to third person several times. This creates a sense of intimacy for the viewer, as they feel like they are right there with the character. It also allows the viewer to see the action from different perspectives.