A beautiful clash of civilizations

Rating: 9/10 (5 January 2017)

The saga of European colonization of the Americas is epic and dramatic in and of itself. The New World, by acclaimed auteur Terrence Malick tells the story of the English arrival at Virginia and the conflict between John Smith and his men and the native people led by Powhatan.
There is definitely a spiritual air to the work as with most of Malick's films, and the point of view seems to be from the position of the natives, as the cinematography is very awe-inspiring and dazzling giving the experience of seeing something new to the viewer.
The fierce violence and seriousness of the interactions between the English and natives is interspersed with touching romance between John Smith and the princess Pocahontas. Malick's romantic side shines brightly and the lovers story takes off swiftly.
The identity of the characters is a key theme in the film, and with John Smith's capture by the natives and Pocahontas' conversion to Christianity, identities fluctuate to and fro with the underlying humanity of the characters providing a solid groundwork.
The film is excellent, and beautiful artistic interpretation of the events of the colonization of Early America. Fans of Malick will recognize his wide-angle shots and off-screen narration. Those not familiar with Malick will still enjoy this film as a solid work.