The New World (2005)

The story of the English exploration of Virginia, and of the changing world and loves of Pocahontas.

Director:

Terrence Malick

Writer:

Terrence Malick

Stars:

Colin Farrell, Q'orianka Kilcher, Christopher Plummer

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Farrell	...	Captain Smith
Q'orianka Kilcher	...	Pocahontas
Christopher Plummer	...	Captain Newport
Christian Bale	...	John Rolfe
August Schellenberg	...	Powhatan
Wes Studi	...	Opechancanough
David Thewlis	...	Wingfield
Yorick van Wageningen	...	Captain Argall
Raoul Trujillo	...	Tomocomo
Michael Greyeyes	...	Rupwew
Kalani Queypo	...	Parahunt
Ben Mendelsohn	...	Ben
Noah Taylor	...	Selway
Brían F. O'Byrne	...	Lewes
Ben Chaplin	...	Robinson

Storyline

Captain Smith is spared his mutinous hanging sentence after captain Newport's 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 chief's 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 hadn't 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 northern-more mission and anglicized Pocahontas, believing him dead, becoming the mother of aristocratic new lover John Rolfe's son. They'll meet again for a finale in England.

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Plot Keywords:

captain | love | fort | trade | colony | 

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Taglines:

Once discovered, it was changed forever

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some intense battle sequences

Details

Official Sites:

Metropolitan Filmexport [fr] New Line Cinema [us]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English Algonquin

Release Date:

20 January 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

El nuevo mundo

Filming Locations:

Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$59,656 (Argentina) (28 April 2006)

Gross:

$59,656 (Argentina) (28 April 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Sunflower Productions, Sarah Green Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min 172 min (extended cut) 150 min (original cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although it was ultimately determined to be fiscally unfeasible to shoot the entire film on 65mm film stock, this has the distinction of being the first feature film in nine years to shoot on 65mm stock for non-visual effects shots. The last film to shoot in 65mm was Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet, which remains (as of 2005) the last feature to be entirely shot on 65mm.

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Goofs

Just prior to the marriage proposal by Rolf to Rebecca, they are seen walking through a large field of foxtail grass. Foxtail is a European/Asian grass, and was introduced to the Americas far later than the colonial period. A field of green foxtail or yellow foxtail could not have been present for them to walk through.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Pocahontas: Come, spirit, help us sing the story of our land. You are our mother. You are our field of corn. We rise from out of the soul of you.

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Connections

Referenced in Allemaal film: De amerikaanse droom (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Ancient Voices"
Written and Performed by R. Carlos Nakai
Courtesy of Celestial Harmonies/Mayflower Music Corp

User Reviews

Art

A quite-literally breathtaking 120 minute montage of sights and sounds evoking the first British contact with North America. The narrative is minimal, even inconsequential, as perhaps it should be in a story that is predominantly about the human need to communicate even when language is a barrier rather than a vehicle to understanding. The performances are universally outstanding, the cinematography and editing award worthy, and the use of 'Das Rheingold' the most inspired use of Wagner ever in a movie. 'The New World' is a genuinely poetic, lyrical, visually stunning and heartbreaking movie. About as flawless as cinema gets. For those still unsure of my feelings, I loved this movie.