The New World 2005

Captain Smith is spared his mutinous hanging sentence after captain Newports ship arrives in 1607 to found Jamestown an English colony in Virginia. The initially friendly natives who have no personal property concept turn hostile after a theft is punished violently on the spot. During an armed exploration Smith is captured but spared when the chiefs favorite daughter Pocahontas pleads for the stranger who soon becomes her lover and learns to love their naive savage way of harmonious life. Ultimately he returns to the grim fort which would starve hadnt she arranged for Indian generosity. Alas each side soon brands their own lover a traitor so she is banished and he flogged as introduction to slavish toiling. Changes turn again leading Smith to accept a northernmore mission and anglicized Pocahontas believing him dead becoming the mother of aristocratic new lover John Rolfes son. Theyll meet again for a finale in England.

Review

This was incredible. Im living at the moment in the awful urban sprawl of Dublin Ireland and took myself right into the inner city to see this and to my surprise found myself being transported not only to another land but also to another time. When I came out I was in a trance for the rest of the day pining for a land and society that is no more and dreaming sweet dreams of angelic Pocahontas gentle John Rolfe and ruggedly genuine John Smith. All three of course excellently played by Quiranka (is that right) Christian and even Colin who though the accent may have been shaky captured perfectly what it would have been to be in John Smiths situation. Mallick of course is a genius and when his films are this good theyre well worth the decade or so of waiting. Also I dont know who the director of photography was but what a job they did possibly the most beautiful film ever put on screen. All in all a masterpiece which Ill carry with me every step I take in this ofttimes sorry world.