Some people criticize this movie for being slow. But these comments are a product of living in the modern world. We expect instant communication. Time efficiency. Immediate gratification. But the times depicted here were a slower pace. People had all the time in the world to talk without the fear that they were competing for the attention from someone having to check their twitter message. You will enjoy this film better if you allow yourself to embrace that pace, if only for a couple of hours
"Did you find your Indies, John?" "I may have sailed past them..." Smith's words to her have deeper meaning. He left her ultimately because of his ambition. It was only now that he was realizing what he had really given up, hence why he also says "It was the only truth." Their love was real in some sense, passionate, and innocent but unstable. Her relationship with Rolfe is stable (she compares him to a tree earlier in the film), his love unbending, and he was the one who knew what he had when he had her. It took her seeing Smith again to truly realize she was over him and finally appreciate Rolfe for the good man he had consistently proven himself to be.
+chiodoce you know the real story is She and John Smith never had a love connection . True she saved him from being killed by her father and he lived with her and her people for while but they never had a love connection. She only had a love connection with John Rolfe when her people gave her to the white people.
I love the shots of growing anxiety we see in Rolfe. He knew his wife’s heart was wild, and he loved her enough not to tame her, so now he knew that wild heart might choose its first love over him, and the fact that he was so worried I think shows that he would have let it happen too. He had a much more sacrificial love for her, and in the end was the one who deserved her. She saw that too, and I think ended up having more love (a truer, stronger love) for Rolfe than she ever had for Smith.
When people talk about film as art, this is the kind of film they talk about. Of the thousands of films I've seen over the course of my life, I've rarely seen a film that is so rich, so rewarding, so beautiful and so utterly transporting.
Heidi McKee soo? She can still be beautiful. Plus she looks way older. I had no idea she was so young in this movie! Regardless, it’s not a sexual remark to call someone stunning, in fact she is. Get over it.
Ahh when she walks behind him and takes his arm...it makes me ache. I love how tentative Bale plays it, yet when she asks him if they can go home his face just opens. Such a tender and romantic moment, so simple yet conveys the depths of love.
Bale's character was an absolute SIMP! He gave her everything, including a beautiful son, and she was ready to up and leave with more attractive 'Adventure Boy'...... the only reason she stuck around with Rolfe, is because she realized he has more resources for her and her child.
Rolfe was smart and kind enough to understand that if he forced her to stay with him, he would lose her anyway. And by respecting her enough to let her make her own decisions he gained her respect, love and trust in return.
@@benlotus2703 That's exactly what happened lol, she was like "this hotty didn't even find China and has no money.... maybe I'll stick it out with Rolfe." and Rolfe is a 16th Century SIMP for taking her back after she openly walked out on him for someone else.
@@soulsurfer639 Not exactly a SIMP. She went back to him because she realised she actually did love him and she was over Smith after seeing him again. Unfortunately, their happiness was short-lived since she never makes it home to The US... she dies in England and doesn't get to see her son grow up
For the people who are concerned with a 14 year old playing opposite of men who are in their 30's. There really is no reason to fret. The director wrote the scenes to be very classy. Q'orianka Kilcher's (Pocahontas) mother was on set with her every day. She said she couldn't have been happier that they were her co-stars since they were such gentleman. Q'orianka was even quoted saying "They're wonderful human beings. Very kind hearted". Colin & Christian complemented her on being beyond her years.
NO, there are reasons to freak out. Even though her mother was there and she was okay with it, it portraits a very wrong idea of a young girl, a teenager having a relationship with an older man. They could have cast an older actress with younger looks. There's no excuse.
@@sofiamart9058 Never mind that it's absolutely historically-accurate. Almost all girls at 15 and 16 during this time period were contemplating marriage, or married. If Pocahontas had remained with her tribe, she probably would have been married at 14. People just didn't live as long.
Not to mention how both Colin & Christian were uncomfortable kissing her because she was a minor. They said it themselves during some of their interviews.
Smith was a soldier, adventurer, and explorer. Smith was a first love based on an immature fantasy image. Rolf was a true love based on shared lives and what they built together. Smith could not love her the way that Rolf could because Smith could not escape the kind of man he was for better and worse. Indeed, "he took what was certain and more tangible for his future." She was vulnerable because her father exiled her. So Smith abandoning her hurt even more. But it was ultimately for the best.
@Таня Мельса not correct. Her feelings for him didn't die. She was content by his acknowledgement that their love was real but he made different choice. She went back to life she consequently fell into, to her husband. (she didn't tell him "my love" but 'my husband', which was correct status) Because she understood nothing can be built with JS now, it was too late. She cried while Rolfe proposed to her because she knew that her heart is with JS. She died almost immediately after conclusion talk with JS. She loved him still.
@Таня Мельса I think it was more complicated. When Smith left her, she fell apart. Jon Rolfe tried to put her back together and heal her with his love. But she couldn't love him back because she still clung to Smith, memories they shared, memories about their love. I don't know if you were ever clinging to someone so much that memory of him became more than your presence to you. She clung to those memories so much that she didn't even realize that she has moved on already. There was one reference of this sooner in the movie when she was in the forest with Smith. ,, Is this the man I loved? So long ... "I feel like that's exacly what she was thinking when she met him. She realized that he is more like a distant memory of the love they felt back than. She was his only truth but he was her dream when she was young and in love. In other words, she loved the idea of him all those years, she didn't love HIM anymore. Sure, he is and always will be part of her, but he is not her presence anymore. That's how I understand it.
@Ann Stillwell -- Idk that it was infatuation, but simply that it was love based on who they were and once could have become together. That love didn't change, but *they* did, not least because he made a choice to leave and their lives diverged. They can't be who they were, or might have been, and the love they once had no longer suited or sustained the people they were 'now' when they met again. The time of being who they once were, and the opportunity for that love to grow and live, had now passed and wouldn't return.
@Таня Мельса Haha I'm the only one besides you, pissed off about this. Better looking Smith bailed on her to look for China.... While less attractive Rolfe shares his love, resources and even has a beautiful child with her, and she's still ready to up and leave Rolfe for the better looking guy who took off. When she sees that Smith isn't so hot and is unsuccessful, she 'allows' Rolfe to have her back. I'd be telling her she can pack her stuff, get out, and she can see her son on weekends! 😠 Rolfe should than marry one of those 17th century puritanical chicks who never cheat 😇
I watched this movie for the first time for 2 weeks ago. Smith's line about "it's the only truth" just stroke a chord in me. This movie perfectly describes our human desire to explore, and the conflicting desire to have stability, peace, balance and love, with another human and with nature. Smiths acknowledges his own ignorance - exploration and career could never bring him the catharsis he experienced in the forrest with her. He couldn't let go of the pressures and norms of his world/society, ultimately causing him to lose the truth and love his soul hungered for. This movie has easily become among my top 10. I have to watch all of Malick's films, as it seems to be a theme he explores - our modern humanity and how it conflicts with nature, love and grace.
@@benlotus2703 You are entirely free to hold that opinion :) There are two possibilities: 1. You are right. 2. You don't have the capacity to understand what Malick is trying to express in his movies produced after The Thin Red Line. While not being conventional story telling, they try to explore more existential topics through a cinematic experience, where not everything is laid out and presented in a clear cut and obvious manner for the average person to understand immediately at first glance, when watching the his movies. Lack of capacity can stem from not having experience of loss, an existential crisis, depression, existential wonder, melancholia, religious belief, moral questioning and spirituality. Just a reminder that movies may make sense for a lot of people, even though they don't make sense through your eyes, due to your paradigm and experience.
@@benlotus2703 A stand by what I said - you lack capacity to understand. Plummer said it was rubbish, because many scenes with him was cut from the final cut of the movie - I understand why he was disappointed about that, but that doesn't make the movie bad. Also, why spend time watching clips on RU-vid from a movie you don't appreciate? :)
I feel more for Rolfe! That guy gave Pochahantas a beautiful home, love and a family... and she was still ready to bail on him for the hotter guy that left her, but decided he wanted to see her again. After seeing that her hunk wasn't successful, she was like "hey Rolfe, I'll stick around with you and the kid after all..." I'm sorry but she would be out of my cabin with no 16th Century alimony and she could visit my son on weekends!
I love the pacing of the movie and the highlight of the nature sounds. So cars, phones, planes or whatever. No fast pace. A good movie to relax to and when you need a break from today’s bad movies
Most importantly love should be mutual. 😁 The man may be in love me but I'm not in love with him and vice versa. So what's the point? I'd rather be in love with someone who is also in love with me.
The thing with these two is that he loved her for what she was, in the forest, being herself, and his turmoil was loving her basically. I don't think she had anything to say to him here, he broke her heart, and like he says in the film, her and her people hold no grudges or jealously. She is calm and contented with her life now, there was no use in getting angry with him. They lived in a fantasy and now it's over... :'( x
this movie moved me 19 years ago and still feels so personal and deeply connecting to my soul in different ways... the fact that John Smith leaved Pocahantes to follow his dream (of finding Indie Islands) and after all those years, he realised the girl was his only dream is heartbrokenly real... We all had experiences of following a mirage at the cost of losing our only true love😢
Well said! How many times have I thought of my youth and how much I have lost. All because I looked for my happiness far away and didn't notice that it was right next to me. Many times. Well, a man is a fool in his youth and the wisdom of old age does not come without that foolish youth. But sometimes it really hurts to think about it.
skippymargue I to was thrilled when she returned to John Rolfe. He is a jewel of a man. He was 100% devoted to her and her needs. It's so refreshing to see a romance film that highlights respect and compassion as the key that holds a couple together. :)
@@Silver54ful I was pissed that Rolfe took her back! I bet he could've scored a 16 century puritanical maiden, that wouldn't ditch him and her son for some vagabond sailor ⛵
it was hard watching this scene. I think the character of Smith was struggling from the beginning of where to take his life next. He was a pirate who was trying to redeem himself and the Captain gives him this second chance or opportunity to redeem himself and take this voyage offered by the King. His love for her wasnt expected or planned, he never saw a future for them even tho he so desperately wanted to so he took what was certain and more tangible for his future.
@@holypaladin7532 nah, Smith was a fuccboi who faked his death because he didn't have the balls to handle his feeling. Bale's character is a virtuous man who cured his wife from depression.
In real life Smith got a chunk of the skin on his leg blown off and needed to leave to England instantly and did not get to say goodbye. The men at Jamestown told her that he was dead.
This was truly a lovely movie. It’s so historical and romantic. You can tell that Smith regrets his actions and though she is not mad at him she kindly dismisses him and moves on. I imagine Rolfe was overwhelmed and takin by surprise to find out he was the one. This is my favorite movie with Christian Bale in it.
"I imagine Rolfe was takin by surprise to find out he was the one..." uuuuuhhh they had a child together, and Rolfe gave her a home and a comfortable living (by 16th century standards). If Rolfe had a pair, he would have sent Pocahontas packing....
the final recognition of her that she got over him and finally could make peace with herself and that she found in Rolfe her new home :) its awesome how relieved and happy she is when she asked him to go home with him!
A man who loves you never leaves.Fact.He wanted his ambition more and so he can have it.Bale loved her and wanted her from the beginning.He deserves to be with her and Im happy she chose him.
This is a beautiful film. I love movies. They can show us how we wish stories would’ve ended. They romanticized to inspire. Other accounts say that she was filled with anger when she saw him after many years for she saw him as a betrayer of her people from whence they trusted him at a time. Pocahontas had a horrible go. She may have even been totally forced to marry Rolfe. I hope not. What a story and legacy.
Truly appreciated this scene, it hurts to realize that smith didnt appreciate her and their love wasn't real but the climax of her seeing smith one last time and being able to walk away to rolfe was delivered excellently, especially with the dialogue and last acknowledgement head nod
if you've ever had a deep, truly deep and meaningful love that wasn't meant to last, this scene really hits hard. Some love just is very deep, but also very temporary. Her husband that loves her and her child are more meaningful to her now.
it is sad John Smith left her and had people lie to her thinking he was dead. But if I saw her dressed as an english woman I would've love her that way. i would've still be in love with the Pocahontas I knew in the forest.
Incredible love story. Pocahontas is such an assertive female character, and John Rolfe is everything a real man should be. She thought John Smith was dead when he opted to take off for the Indies, only to find out he was still alive, living in England, with no plans to ever return, and had essentially abandoned her to slate his ambition. She told her husband she made a mistake marrying him and needed to see John Smith because he is her true husband, and being such a good man John Rolfe took her to England so she could see Smith again agreeing to wait for her and see how it goes as she decides which one of them she wants to be with... Smith the man who abandoned her never planning to return or Rolfe the stable man who practically worships her. So beautiful. So poetic
what the heck are you talking about? I just said that the actress resembles the cartoon drawing which was drawn off of actress Irene Bedard (not Pohawton) who places the mother of Pocahontas in this film right here. That's it. There was no need to drop a history ethnic lesson on me. That's it. I know Q'orianka Kilcher is German and Native American already & she looks like the cartoon.
Do see Mizoguchi's beautiful and poignant masterpiece Sansho the Bailiff, which is no doubt an influence on this film, not least with a scene i'll call Anju's ripples.
Probably not going to get a response to this at this point, but anybody know what the track beginning at 1:55 is? I have listened to the entire soundtrack of the film more than once and that bit of music is not there. The preceding and following parts are, but that in particular is not. It actually sounds a lot like a piece from one of Horner's other film scores, Braveheart. I know the way Malick cut the film together resulted in some of Horner's score for this movie to be unused and that other parts had to be filled with other music; is that perhaps what happened at 1:55?
scenelover78 Thanks a lot. Don't worry about it. I can just revisit this scene when I fancy a listen! Plus, the rest of the soundtrack to this movie is amazing already.
***** Thank you for the reply. It's not that one though. Don't get me wrong, Pocahontas and Smith is an amazing track; the entire soundtrack is great. But that particular brief moment I asked about is not in the soundtrack. It was one of the bits of music that was taken from elsewhere. I actually think it's from Horner's Braveheart soundtrack.
