News of the World (2020)
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An aging Civil War veteran travels across the American frontier to return a young girl who was raised by the Kiowa to her biological family.
The story
In 1870, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a former Confederate officer, makes a living traveling through Texas reading newspapers to locals. After discovering a young white girl who only speaks Kiowa and has been kidnapped and adopted by the tribe, Kidd is instructed by a Union patrol to take her to officials. However, after learning the girl's adoptive family was killed, Kidd accepts the responsibility of returning her to her relatives in Castroville. The journey becomes perilous as they are pursued by ex-Confederate soldiers and encounter a racist cattle baron who has seized control of the local county.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1870, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a former Confederate officer, travels through Texas reading newspapers for a fee. He finds a young girl, Johanna Leonberger, who was kidnapped by the Kiowa and raised as one of them. After a Union patrol tells him to take her to officials, Kidd decides to return her to her family in Castroville. During the journey, he learns her adoptive family was killed and she is known as 'Cicada'. They are pursued by three ex-Confederate soldiers who want to buy her; Kidd kills them using makeshift ammunition. They are later detained by a racist cattle baron, Farley. Kidd reads a story about a coal mine disaster that incites a rebellion among Farley's workers. In the chaos, Johanna wounds Farley, and one of his henchmen kills him. After their wagon is wrecked and they are forced to travel on foot, they receive a horse from a group of Kiowa. They eventually reach the Leonberger farmstead. Kidd reluctantly leaves Johanna with her Aunt Anna and Uncle Wilhelm, but after visiting his late wife's grave, he realizes she has become family to him. He returns to her, and after the relatives agree to let her stay with him, he introduces her as his daughter, Johanna Kidd, while reading the news to an audience.
- First release year
- 2020
- Runtime (minutes)
- 120
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; Kiowa; German
- Directors
- Paul Greengrass
- Writers
- Paul Greengrass · screenplay; Luke Davies · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Tom Hanks · Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd; Helena Zengel · Johanna Leonberger; Michael Angelo Covino; Ray McKinnon; Mare Winningham; Elizabeth Marvel; Fred Hechinger; Bill Camp
- Genres
- Western; American Western
- Themes
- Family; Identity; Survival; Historical Trauma
- Tone and mood
- Languorous; Poignant; Stolid; Heartfelt
- Premise and plot tags
- Road Movie; Western; Historical Drama; Veteran Story
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2016 novel of the same name by Paulette Jiles
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Hanks and Zengel, as well as the cinematography, musical score, and Greengrass's direction. However, some critics found it too 'nice' or 'stolid'.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: 100 · review count: 45; CinemaScore · score: B+ · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Best Original Score · Academy Awards · 93rd · Nomination; Best Cinematography · Academy Awards · 93rd · Nomination; Best Production Design · Academy Awards · 93rd · Nomination; Best Sound · Academy Awards · 93rd · Nomination; Best Supporting Actress · Golden Globes · Nomination; Best Supporting Actress · Screen Actors Guild Awards · Nomination
- Production trivia
- Helena Zengel dubbed herself in the Italian, German, French and Spanish versions.; Kiowa Tribe member Dorothy WhiteHorse coached Zengel in the Kiowa language.; The film was originally going to be released by Fox 2000 Pictures.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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