In the landscape of modern romance, the path to love is no longer blocked by a lack of options but paralyzed by an excess of them. Drake Doremus’s 2017 film Newness serves as a cinematic scalpel, dissecting the messy, digital heart of millennial dating. The title itself is a double-edged sword: it refers to the initial, intoxicating rush of a new partner, but also to the relentless, destructive demand for novelty fostered by dating apps. Through the turbulent relationship of two Los Angeles singles, Martin and Gabi, the film argues that technology has not ruined our ability to love, but rather has exacerbated our deepest insecurities, turning relationships into commodities to be consumed and discarded once the "newness" wears off.
The film opens with a familiar ritual of the 2010s: the frictionless swipe. Both protagonists are users of a hookup app called "Newness," which promises connection without commitment. Doremus masterfully captures the hollow dopamine rush of this process. The app is a mirror reflecting a culture that prioritizes instant gratification over deep investment. Martin (Nicholas Hoult), a pharmacist, and Gabi (Laia Costa), a physical therapist, meet the old-fashioned way—in a bar—yet their relationship is immediately colored by the digital ethos they came from. Their initial chemistry is electric precisely because it feels unfiltered. They confess secrets, traumas, and insecurities with a raw vulnerability that seems to transcend the superficial world of swiping. nonton newness -2017-
There is a meta-commentary here on the "Newness" app itself. The app functions like a drug—a quick hit of serotonin provided by a match or a message. Martin’s struggle with his own mental health (implied depression and emptiness) parallels his addiction to the app. He is trying to medicate a spiritual void with digital connection. The film suggests that modern dating culture is a symptom of a broader inability to sit with one's own boredom and silence. Swipe Right for Sorrow: The Paradox of Abundance
Harap diingat bahwa film ini memiliki rating Dewasa (R) karena mengandung adegan seksual, ketelanjangan, dan bahasa yang eksplisit. Through the turbulent relationship of two Los Angeles
The third piece changed everything: a thirty-minute film titled "Newness" — handwritten letters across the screen confessed it had been twelve years in the making. The director, a soft-spoken woman named Laila who sat in the third row after the credits, had filmed fragments of a neighborhood over many seasons. Her method was simple: return to the same corner, the same shopfront, the same bench, and ask the same question: “What would you give up to begin again?”
If you enjoyed films like Like Crazy or Blue Valentine, you’ll likely appreciate the emotional honesty of Newness. It’s a thoughtful, if occasionally exhausting, look at how technology has changed the way we love.
The film's success can be attributed to its timely release, as it coincided with the growing concern about the impact of technology on human relationships. The movie's exploration of online dating, social media, and the blurring of boundaries between the physical and digital worlds resonated with Indonesian audiences, particularly the younger generation.