The New World: a gap-year fantasy that doesn't trip up on talking raccoons

10 February 2012 2:05 AM, PST | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »

Terrence Malick's take on the Pocahontas tale is un-Disneyfied in every way

Director: Terrence Malick

Entertainment grade: B

History grade: B+

In 1607, 104 Englishmen and boys established Jamestown. It would become the first permanent English settlement in the territory that is now the United States.

Colonialism

Grudgingly, Captain Newport (Christopher Plummer) frees John Smith (Colin Farrell) on his arrival in Virginia. Smith was condemned to death during the voyage for being annoying. Oh, all right: formally, for concealing a mutiny. He's still annoying. Soon he's wandering moodily around the forests and fields, shirt open to show off his pecs, wearing feathers and beads like he's on some kind of gap year, and banging on about what noble savages the local Powhatan people are. "They are gentle, loving, faithful; lacking in all guile and trickery," he burbles. "They have no jealousy; no sense of possession." Fortunately, director Terrence Malick clearly realises this is patronising tosh. »

- Alex von Tunzelmann

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