Watch The World to Come

The World to Come is a deeply layered drama from 2020 that explores love and loss against the beautiful and rugged backdrop of the American frontier. Directed by Mona Fastvold and written by Jim Shepard and Ron Hansen, the film follows two couples as they navigate the harsh realities of life in 1850s America. The story centers around Abigail (Katherine Waterston), a farmer's wife struggling to cope with the recent loss of her young daughter. Abigail lives a bleak and desolate existence, mourning the child she has lost and longing for a way to escape the monotony and isolation of her daily life. When she meets her new neighbor, Tallie (Vanessa Kirby), a free-spirited and adventurous woman who is seemingly untouched by the hardships of frontier life, Abigail finds herself unexpectedly drawn to her.

As the two women begin to spend more time together, it becomes clear that they are deeply in love. However, their relationship is threatened by the fact that they are both married to other men. Abigail's husband, Dyer (Casey Affleck), is a stoic and hard-working man who seems completely oblivious to his wife's emotional turmoil. Meanwhile, Tallie is married to Finney (Christopher Abbott), a violent and abusive man who views his wife as nothing more than property.

Despite the obstacles in their way, Abigail and Tallie find solace and joy in each other's company, gradually building a relationship that is both passionate and tender. As their love deepens, they must navigate the dangers of frontier life, as well as the disapproval of their respective spouses and communities. Ultimately, the two women must decide whether to risk everything for each other, or to resign themselves to a life of quiet desperation and unhappiness.

The World to Come is an incredibly powerful film that explores themes of love, loss, and the transformative power of human connection. The cinematography is breathtaking, capturing both the brutality and the beauty of life in the American wilderness. The performances are also superb, with Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby shining in their roles as Abigail and Tallie. The chemistry between the two actresses is electric, and the love story at the heart of the film is deeply moving.

In addition to the central love story, The World to Come also delves into issues of gender and power dynamics, particularly in the context of 19th-century America. The film highlights the ways in which women were often trapped in miserable marriages and forced to tolerate abuse and neglect from their husbands. It also touches on the loneliness and isolation that many people in frontier communities experienced, as well as the devastating impact that grief can have on a person's mental and emotional well-being.

Overall, The World to Come is a beautifully crafted film that will stay with viewers long after the credits have rolled. It is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, and a tribute to the enduring power of love in the face of adversity.

The World to Come is a 2021 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 38 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 73.