Fluer Fortuné’s The Assessment (2024) serves as a compelling companion piece to Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men, with both films set in a near-future world where childbirth has become a rarity. Yet, amid this crisis, their characters cling to the fragile hope of new life. While Cuarón’s vision is rooted in a gritty, war-torn landscape populated by working-class struggles, Fortuné’s film shifts the lens to a more insular perspective—that of a privileged couple living in a secluded, state-sanctioned sanctuary.

Despite the serene setting, The Assessment delivers a sharp critique of societal control, personal autonomy, and the quiet tyranny of privilege. It unfolds as a thoughtful meditation on what it truly means to become a parent in a world governed by surveillance and sterile order. The film isn’t afraid to venture into philosophical territory, raising questions that linger long after the credits roll.

Ultimately, the story...