Vanessa Kirby and Katherine Waterson’s Clandestine Affair Ignites in This Queer Western Romance

Although the “Wild West” is often portrayed as an exciting period in history that was filled with action and adventure, the reality is that the frontier era was a rather dangerous time in America’s trajectory. A majority of people had to lead very lonely, isolated lives that required them to dedicate a majority of their time to their careers, many of which involved highly laborious feats of physical labor. This does not mean that romance was absent within the Western era, but that it was far less idealized than it has been depicted in many popular films. The World to Come explores a highly realistic, intimate queer relationship in the 1850s and features extraordinary performances from Vanessa Kirby and Katherine Waterson.

What Is ‘The World to Come’ About?

The World to Come follows the intersection between two couples in Schoharie County, New York, an isolated community that is dedicated mostly to farming. Waterston stars as Abigail, who is going through a rough period of time with her husband, Dyer (Casey Affleck), due to their loss of a child. Kirby co-stars as Tallie, who moves to the community with her husband Finney (Christopher Abbott). Given the dangerous circumstances that surround them, including a nasty storm that deeply traumatizes Tallie, the two couples begin to spend more time with one another. However, Abigail begins to understand that her feelings for Tallie are romantic in nature, as she begins feeling a sense of lust that she has never experienced before. Although both their husbands remain largely unaware of the situation, Abigail and Tallie begin a passionate affair that provides them both with a small degree of joy amidst a very dark environment.

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Silence is golden.

The World to Come does a great job at exploring the origins of its central relationship, as it details how both Abigail and Tallie find themselves drawn to one another. Abigail does appear to have some affection for Dyer, but their marriage was one that was made out of convenience and not out of love; although in the past the two felt very open with one another, Dyer’s bout with depression has made it much harder for them to communicate. Tallie indicates that she has never had the opportunity to make friends with other people because of how manipulative and controlling Finney is. Since both women do not live near a major city in which they would be given the opportunity to regularly interact with others, the chance to spend time with someone else who has genuine compassion is something they grow to cherish. Although the words don’t exist at the time for these women to identify who they are, they begin to understand that their relationship is queer.

‘The World to Come’ Explores Loneliness and Self-Discovery

The World to Come captures the isolating experience of living on a farm in the 19th century and how being devoid of contact from the outside world can lead to drastic emotional fluctuations. One of the most powerful scenes in the film involves Tallie buying Abigail an atlas for her birthday celebration; not only does this show that Tallie understands what Abigail actually likes better than her husband, but it also indicates that she is interested in learning about the greater world that she will likely never be able to explore. Although the film examines how the culture surrounding LGBTQIA+ relationships put both Tallie and Abigail in a hostile situation, it also has sympathy for how Dyer is left to react to the situation. Social expectations at the time meant that men were not encouraged to be open with their feelings, and Dyer’s decision to bottle up his emotions had a damaging effect on his mental health.

The World to Come is a gorgeously crafted film that draws attention to the fleeting moments of beauty that exist within this challenging period in American history; even if Tallie and Abigail don’t have much, their ability to retain the sanctity of their appearance gives them a sense of pride that they would be devoid of otherwise. The film’s authenticity is also quite bold, as it acknowledges that real life is rarely as poetic as it is depicted in cinema. The World to Come expands the definition of what a great historical romance could look like, delivering a powerful story of denied love that is unforgettably heartbreaking.