The Elite are under Siege in New Order

by Kathia Woods

Michel Franco's filmmaking has always had a cold edge to it; here, too, is a frigid attempt and a visually chilling story from the director. With its vision of a violent revolt against Mexico's super-wealthy, New Order is a nightmare come true. The influence of France's adult terrible Gaspar Noé can be seen in the film's titles and credits, which have the letter E reversed.

For decades, this has been the type of provocative cinema that has been met with opposition from the alt right media, but Franco has ironically faced his own uprising from Mexicans when the trailer's depiction of vengeful darker-skinned revolutionaries was condemned as racist. Franco apologized in advance but noted that his film was specifically targeted by "whitexican." The exchange demonstrated that Mexico was not prepared to engage in a nuanced discussion about classicism.

The setting is a society wedding attended by the 1% elite in Mexico City's most opulent neighborhood, attended by corrupt politicians and businessmen, with their spoiled adult children ordering about the darker-skinned servants. The wedding is to be a stage for a show of power – but not in the way that the bride's father intended. Because there is a strange eddy of unease about the party, there are chaotic protests in other parts of town. Guests were delayed on their way to the house. Activists are splattering green paint all over the place as their signature touch. When the tap water briefly turns green, the bride's mother is startled. Is this the result of a tainted water supply or a supernatural visitation?

Bride-to-be Marianne (Naian González Norvind) is irritated when a former servant knocks on her door and begs for money. His wife requires surgery. The men are irritated by the disruption, but kind-hearted Marianne and her mother come up with some funds to assist. Marianne leaves the compound in the car with Cristian (Fernando Cuautle), a servant, enduring the chaos on the streets. It means she avoided armed protesters invading her family's home, but she will soon face horror herself. Cynical, sadistic, and corrupt military factions have taken over, or may have run the revolution from the start, rounding up wealthy people, demanding ransoms, and carrying out unspeakable sexual torture.

New Order is written in a straightforward tone and technique. There is not a single moment of peace for the audience. The violence is at the forefront, heightening the anguish.

There are no saviors, no empathy, no good characters, and the film ends on a shocking note of injustice and pain.

What is the takeaway? It is a warning of what inequality can cause in the future, as well as what it is currently causing the divide in our world. New Order convincingly informs you that a real-life revolution could be just as ugly, and horrifying, as this depicts – and that it is on its way. Our country is, in some ways, amid its own New Order, which is what makes this film so chilling. Something that appears to so far away is a lot closer.