AFI FEST 2020: New Order
afi fest 2020Finding a thematic identity somewhere between that of Darren Aronofsky's controversial mother! and Bong Joon-ho's masterpiece Parasite, Michel Franco's feature New Order stands as one of the most chaotic and thematically rich films of the year so far. The film, which is sure to push and challenge plenty of audiences, engages with the topic of class and social protest in a violent and overwhelming matter that is just as anxiety inducing as it is captivating.
The craziness begins right from the beginning. The ending party scene of Parasite, for many, stands as one of the most shocking and incredible sequences in recent cinema, with the various groups highlighted in the film finally clashing in a violent brawl that is as satisfying as it is jarring. New Order contains a scene eerily similar but instead of it being the grand conclusion, it is how the film kicks off the madness, only getting more chaotic and insane as the runtime goes on. Featuring some of the strongest editing of the year so far by Óscar Figueroa and Michel Franco alongside incredibly skilled framing from the director and engaging cinematography from Yves Cape, New Order stands as one of the most enthralling films of the year. It puts the audience right in the middle of the chaos with shocking twists and turns around every corner.
Not only is New Order willing to take tonal risks, but it also isn't afraid to embrace consequences. From very early on, it is clear that no one is safe within the film. At any time, any character can die in the violent chaos that the film takes on, putting the audience on edge. New Order, in an effective manner that never feels pretentious or contrived, rejects the traditional narrative formula in a way that enhances the insanity of the plot. Similar to Parasite, what elevates the film overall is not its style but ultimately its substance.
New Order is an incredibly complex and layered film. On the surface, the film exists as a thriller. A radical group of lower income individuals have waged war against an upper class family, taking them hostage and demanding change in a plot that will challenge audiences and where their morals lie. Beyond this thriller identity, there remains a clear thematic depth regarding class and the unwillingness of the upper class to help those in need. Though powerful enough to captivate audiences and give the film a real weight on its own, New Order doesn't stop here. The style of the film and the social commentary regarding class resembles that of Parasite, but it is in the film's embrace of metaphors and allegories that, on a deeper level, is more comparable to mother! in the best of ways.
New Order pushes audiences, allowing them to find their own meanings for various symbols and ideas, which is going to lead to it being one of the most interesting films to discuss as more audiences are able to see it. Every audience member is going to come away from the film with a different meaning yet, because the film has a solid foundation of a plot, even if audiences struggle to find a solid deeper thesis the film will still stand on its own. It is rewarding to engage with and each rewatch exposes more and more, but that deeper thesis isn't what the film is solely resting on to make the viewing experience worthwhile.
In a year which is shaping up to generally be lacking in masterpieces, New Order comes closer than most to earning this title. With the impressive mixture of style and legitimate substance, New Order feels captivating and inspired. Whilst it might not be as poignant or as clean as Parasite, for fans of that film and the shocking twists and turns which also hold a deeper meaning, New Order should be considered must watch and easily jumps up into the conversation of the best of the year.
