• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Film
  • DVD
  • Editorial
  • About ScreenFish

ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • News
  • OtherFish
  • Podcast
  • Give
You are here: Home / Film / New Order: Reversal of Fortunes

New Order: Reversal of Fortunes

June 11, 2021 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Directed by Michel Franco, New Order follows Marianne (Naian Gonzalez Norvind), a young bride who is celebrating with her husband during her lavish upper-class wedding. However, when an unexpected class war bursts forth outside their walls, Marianne is taken hostage and her wedding erupts into violence and chaos. As her family works tirelessly to bring her home, the city’s political system collapses and gives rise to a much more terrifying regime.

New Order is an intense and visceral ride that operates as a word of warning to the wealthy (sort of). With brutal torture scenes and truly monstrous villains, Franco does not shy away from scenes designed to make the viewer feel uncomfortable and even horrify at times. Led by a strong performance by young Norvind, Order remains unafraid to step into the darkness of a nation that is torn apart by social division and inequality.  

What is most surprising about New Order though is its lack of nuance. Whereas films like Parasite have attempted to create a sense of balance in their portrayal of the rich and poor, Order has none of these shades of grey. In this world, the military and poor are vicious beasts intent on punishing the wealthy with little (if any) backstory provided to the viewer. By telling the story through the eyes of young bride Marianne, the film highlights the innocence of the upper class who live in ignorance of the outside world. As such, Order becomes less about examining the effects of political or financial oppression on the underclasses. Instead, the film focuses on the wealthy as victims and never truly explains what cultural circumstances created this conflict. One way that the film highlights this is that, throughout much of the film, the faces of the military remain largely hidden from view. In doing so, Franco keeps them from being sympathetic to the viewer, similar to the Stormtroopers of Star Wars films.

In this way, the film becomes somewhat of a missed opportunity. While kidnapped victims are treated similarly to the cruelty often received by the poorest of prisoners, including punishments ranging from being sprayed by a firehose to sexual abuse, the potential conversations surrounding these traumas are largely ignored. In other words, rather than explore the initial effects that these sorts of abuse had on the lower classes and potentially led to the revolt, Order simply focuses on demonizing them. (For example, as ransoms are paid, victims who are supposed to be set free are murdered regardless.)

As a result, New Order also come across as somewhat of hopeless endeavour. In many ways, this is not a film that offers solutions but fear. In Order, justice is carried out with violence and retribution as opposed to any form of nuanced conversation and compromise. While that works in the context of the film, it is also feels tone deaf to the current conversations taking place in our world, especially as it comes to issues of poverty.

In the end, New Order will provide an enjoyable (but likely disturbing) experience for those who are looking for an evening of intense entertainment. Admittedly, however, there’s something about Order that leaves the viewer wanting. While the film shows that Franco knows how to create a story that grabs the viewer, so too does it also lose the sort of conversation that could truly make Order memorable.

New Order is available on VOD on Friday, June 11th, 2021.

Share it!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Film, Reviews, VOD Tagged With: Michel Franco, Naian Gonzalez Norvind, New Order, Parasit

About Steve Norton

Steve Norton is a pastor, hubby, and daddy (x2). I am a dedicated Jesus follower who looks for new ways to bring God glory and I have a ridiculous passion for film. It's one of my distinct interests to explore the connection between the two as well. Over the last 5 years, I've been proud to be a writer for Hollywood Jesus, Love Is Moving magazine and now, I have the privilege to help create ScreenFish.net! #forHisglory

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

THE SF NEWS

Get a special look, just for you.

sf podcast

Hot Off the Press

  • GIVEAWAY! Advance Screening of 80 FOR BRADY!
  • Close – End of childhood innocence
  • Unstoppable Shorts at Slamdance 2023
  • Slamdance 2023: With Peter Bradley
  • Still more from Slamdance 2023
Find tickets and showtimes on Fandango.

where faith and film are intertwined

film and television carry stories which remind us of the stories God has woven since the beginning of time. come with us on a journey to see where faith and film are intertwined.

Footer

ScreenFish Articles

GIVEAWAY! Advance Screening of 80 FOR BRADY!

Close – End of childhood innocence

  • About ScreenFish
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 · ScreenFish.net · Built by Aaron Lee

 

Loading Comments...