Dramatic, engrossing and even titillating at times The World to Come fixates delivering stellar performances and a story that punctuates hard times in the mid 1800’s. From opening scene to its intense finale, the picture book movie nails the costuming, location, sets and cinematography of the challenging settlement in northern New York. If you are a romantic, like a good book played out on the screen or just entertained by a good screenplay, check this prize out now in theaters and soon to release on digital.
The film opens in upstate New York in Schoharie County midway between closest cities of Albany and Utica. Snow has covered the ground and a farm house comes into view. The occupants are farmers with cows, chickens a good size heard of sheep. It’s Tuesday, January 1st, 1856 and the Civil War has just about wound down. Being in the far north the effect of the major conflict does not seem to have been a major problem to these settlers who are just getting by.
Credit: Vlad Cioplea
Here we find Abigail (Katherine Waterston) and Dyer (Casey Affleck) tending the farm with their daily chores and can feel the chill of the long freezing winter. On this day visitors, Tallie (Vanessa Kirby) and Finny (Christopher Abbott), stop by and introduce themselves as their new neighbors who are renting until they can find property. Abigail is excited to see the young couple about their age as the relationship between her and Dyre have been strained since the loss of their daughter to diphtheria. In fact, there seems to be a spark of delight between her and Tallie at first sight.
When Abigail and Tallie’s relationship starts to go beyond friendship, they find ways of meeting each other for some private time. Director Mona Fastvold turns up the heat in this cold valley and changes the women’s lives forever.
Credit: Toni Salabasev
The acting by the whole cast is very good, but Waterston and Kirby make the forbidden passion work. From sparks to fire, the two turn their dull lives into a feel good hunger that each has been lacking in their humdrum lives.
Credit: Vlad Cioplea
Nicely written by two men, Ron Hansen and Jim Shepard, they chose a woman to visualize it and rightly so. Mona Fesvold make it magnetic from the start you can feel the labors of her main characters. The film gets high marks for production, acting and direction. The film has been rated R by the MPAA for some sexuality/nudity. It gets a rating of 4 out of 5 Stars. The World to come is now playing at select Theaters and will soon be available on Digital.
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
