Ava (Erin Bethea) and Benjamin Morton (Jonathan Patrick Moore) on their wedding day. Photo: Supplied.
By Theresia Titus
Through a simple storyline, New Life tells the audience of a subtle Christian message about how the smallest light of hope is always there even in the most unbearable situations.
Directed by Drew Waters, a television actor who makes his directing debut with the release of New Life, the movie tells the story of childhood sweethearts Ava (Erin Bethea) and Benjamin Morton (Jonathan Patrick Moore).
The story is told and narrated by Benjamin, whose life changed forever the day he met the little girl next door, Ava, when he moved to the United States with his parents.
Ava was and always would be the girl of his dreams.
From the innocence of a childhood friendship, through adolescent attraction, their love strengthens and grows into mutual feelings of attraction and affection for each other.
They date through their first few years in college before finally experiencing the reality of a long-distance relationship and a break-up, upon which they soon realise that their relationship is worth fighting for.
Young Ava and Benjamin on the day they met each other. Photo: Supplied.
After finishing college and settling with their own chosen career paths, with Ava working as a primary school teacher and Ben is an architect at his father’s architectural firm, Ben proposes to Ava and she says “yes”.
Little did they know that married life is full of challenges of balancing time with each other, prioritising on what is important and ultimately facing loss and illness.
When life takes a turn neither of them expected, their entire future is called into question.
The plot is simple for the audience to understand, however, the story has a lack of depth as a result of the lacking chemistry between the two main actors.
The suburban setting is suitable for the movie and the unpredictable ending somewhat offsets the flat problem-solution pattern throughout the storyline.
The movie is suitable for those who are looking for a light watch with family members, or even those who want to know what commitment and being married mean.
The movie “explores the ups and downs of life and love, showing us that in good times and bad, life can be approached with hope and the opportunity for something new”.
New Life, in cinemas Thursday 6 December theatrically across Australia, classified as PG (Mild Themes).