The New World
The New World
The story of the English exploration of Virginia, and of the changing world and loves of Pocahontas.
Mike reviewedOctober 11, 2024
A beautiful and trance-inducing film, focussed on the love between people and the love for nature, created by Terrence Malick
"Mother, where do you live? In the sky? The clouds? The sea? Show me your face. Give me a sign. We rise... we rise. Afraid of myself. A god, he seems to me. What else is life but being near you? Do they suspect? Oh, to be given to you. You to me. I will be faithful to you. True. Two no more. One. One. I am... I am."
The New World is another thought-provoking Terrence Malick film that I love for it’s philosophical and abstract aspects. His cinematography is yet again very dreamlike. These dreamlike visuals make you forget everything around you. They immerse you into the love between characters and the love between characters and nature.
It’s not just the story, characters and underlying meaning that are interesting, but also the way these aspects connect with the slow moving and intimate nature shots. Combine this, with the beautiful score by James Horner and other classical composers, and you will have a piece of art that stimulates your visual and audible senses. This results in an deep connection with the characters, their choices and their love, during the film. All in a dreamlike experience.
The arrival of the ships, seen from the point of view of the Native Americans, is one of the best cinematography I’ve ever seen. This camera position places the viewer into the perspective if the Native Americans, which lets you feel the mystery and fear these people felt looking at the massive ships invading their home. The camera pans through the woods, with Richard Wagner’s Das Rheingold Vorspiel starting in the background slowly getting louder and taking over, creating a beautiful and immersive scene.
Letterboxd: Mike_v_E