The way in which you come to know much of anything about the reserved and unfulfilled Abigail (Katherine Waterston, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them) is through the gentle voiceover narration that comes from reciting her diary. The days roll on as an endless series of menial tasks that allow her to survive in the world but never truly live a life of joy and purpose. Something changes upon the arrival of a new figure in her life who stirs something in her that has long been dormant, if it ever existed at all. Based on Jim Shepard’s 2017 short story of the same title, The World To Come explores the lives of two mid-19th century farmers’ wives who find respite in one another in a time when having such feelings would typically only lead to heartache or worse.
The year is 1856 and Abigail is starting off the new year still in mourning for her daughter who she lost to illness a few months prior. Her days in rugged upstate New York with her husband, Dyer (Casey Affleck, Manchester By The Sea), are filled with the same series of tasks as always – keeping the house, plucking the chickens, milking the cow, baking bread, etc. To gaze upon her stoic outward demeanor would reveal no hint of the lyrical passion that she pours into her diary. Dyer acknowledges the distance between them, but even when his half-hearted attempts at intimacy fail there remains tenderness between the two. The intellectually hungry woman longs for something more, comparing herself to “a library without books” in her times of loneliness. Yet something primal stirs deep inside her upon the arrival of their new neighbors, Tallie (Vanessa Kirby, The Crown) and her brutish pig-farmer husband Finney (Christopher Abbott, Possessor). It only takes the red-haired beauty returning her glance to set her on a path to something altogether life-changing.
As the women begin paying each other regular visits, the private passion that was once relegated to her diary starts to emerge for the first time with another person. Kirby effortlessly embodies Tallie with a playful boldness that proves to be everything Abigail needs to be drawn out of her shell. The two do share frustrations about their marriages, but with familiarity comes a greater depth to their conversations. They bare their souls to one another about their dissatisfaction living in a world ruled by the patriarchy. They may not have everything they want out of life, but they appreciate what they have in one another. The attraction between the two develops steadily and naturally from subtle gestures such as the grazing of fingers or the massaging of frozen feet. With the inevitable kiss comes a world of happiness that previously seemed like an impossible dream. That might actually be the case, as they are still in a time period where the discovery of their relationship could spell big trouble.
While the women in the film are at the forefront of talent, due respect should be given to the husbands who unbeknownst to them stand in the way of a more fulfilling life for their wives. Abbott plays Finney with a touch of black-hearted lunacy who views Tallie as nothing more than a piece of property that is not fulfilling its function. The malevolence that he casts over a simple dinner between families makes for a deeply uncomfortable experience. Affleck on the other hand brings a little something different to Dyer. He is a man who wants nothing more than to be loved, but he is not without a heart when it comes to his wife. Your heart breaks as the hapless man consistently points out how Abigail only smiles when Tallie is around, as he would love nothing more than to be someone who could do that for her. His journey with his wife is much more complicated and interesting than the standard toxicity that flows out of Finney.
The film is very reserved when it comes to the physical intimacy between Abigail and Tallie. Every time they are on screen with one another, the atmosphere is charged with a longing that the film is just as desperate to consummate as much as the characters. This holds true to the reserved time period, and only serves to accentuate the passion that explodes on screen, however briefly, at a key emotional moment of the story. If there is any criticism to level at this film, it may be the over-reliance on narration that begins as a helpful tool but morphs into something of an albatross. Abigail is an insular character who needs to be coaxed out into the world, but the beauty of director Mona Fastvold’s vision would likely be enough to convey the subtle emotions brewing inside our protagonist without having it spelled out continuously. The choice feels like it prioritized the original text instead of allowing the film to fully embrace its cinematic language. Outside of this, The World To Come brings this heart-wrenching tale to life in quite the assured manner. It is a film that captures the pain and beauty of life in a way that will linger in your mind for long after the credits have stopped rolling.
Video Quality
The World To Come comes to Blu-Ray in an AVC encoded transfer in 1.66:1 courtesy of Wolfe Video featuring some striking cinematography from André Chemetoff. As you embark upon this particular film, it is important to note that this film looks quite a bit different than many of its contemporaries due to the decision to shoot on Super 16 film, which has become more of a rarity over the years. This allows the camera to capture some stunning landscapes that really come alive with the natural film grain. Let’s not mince words; this is a very grainy film, but that is the creative intention and one that never devolves into digital noise. Textural details of the cabin interior really stand out in a lovely way, and the hues of the forest leaps off the screen with an immense vibrancy.
The bright whites of the snow storm remain tight and do not veer into blooming. Chemetoff lights interiors in a particular way – almost replicating the experience of natural light – which leaves some of the darkest moments lacking some distinct background detail. This presentation is quite stunning and offers a consistent image quality throughout. There is no evidence of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances of the sort. Skin tones look natural throughout the runtime. Those who do not have an appreciation for film grain may struggle in parts with this transfer, but the process gives the film a lived-in quality that really suits the material. While I do not have the DVD to compare quality, I can only imagine that this material would have difficulty remaining as stable as it does in high definition. The decision to give this one a Blu-Ray release was a wise one.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that conjures a very specific mood that transports you to this time in history. This is a very subdued film, but the track does come alive with the environmental sounds such as the snow storm. The wonderful score from Daniel Blumberg is showcased beautifully here with a gently enveloping use of the surround speakers. The dialogue comes through crystal clear without ever being overpowered by the environmental effects or the score. The sound design is executed precisely with all of the sounds positioned just right in the mix. The environmental effects create a really nice soundscape of brisk wind and rain, as well as noises from the animals on the farm. This is not an extremely kinetic film, so the activity in the low end is very sparse. This is a lovely sounding release that brings the movie to life in a commendable way.
Special Features
- Featurette: A minute-long piece in which the cast and crew discuss the story.
- Trailers: The nearly three-minute trailer is provided here. There is also a trailer provided for Supernova.
Final Thoughts
The World To Come is a beautiful tale of love and discovering what it means to feel alive in this world. It is transcendentally beautiful and occasionally tragic, but never less than deeply affecting. The performances from our four main performers are beyond reproach, but the ladies especially bring something quite stirring to the screen. Wolfe Video has offered up a Blu-Ray that perfectly captures the artistic intention of the film with a lovely A/V presentation and a brief featurette. While some may find this to be too luxuriously paced for their personal taste, those who think the narrative sounds intriguing are likely to gain something quite meaningful from the experience. Recommended
The World To Come is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Wolfe Video has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
