[Article] AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER – Exploring Parenthood in Pandora

[Article] AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER – Exploring Parenthood in Pandora
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER l 20th Century Studios
Nightmarish Conjurings had the opportunity to attend a global press conference for the long-awaited sequel of Avatar (2009), titled AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Accompanying director James Cameron were returning cast members Zoe Saldaña, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang; producer Jon Landau, and longtime Cameron collaborator Kate Winslet joined the cast with a brand-new character. Bringing viewers back to the lush floating mountains and bioluminescent forests of Pandora, the film aims to place a greater emphasis on family and interpersonal drama than its predecessor.

Despite the original film’s enormous success, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER is charged with a heavy burden given Avatar’s somewhat worn-down legacy. In the decade since the film’s release, fans have questioned Avatar’s long-term cultural impact in comparison to comparable science fiction juggernauts like Star Wars and Alien films, often diminishing its narrative to “Space-Pocahontas” and questioning its white-savior tones. Moreover, in today’s streaming landscape, original films are being sidelined to streaming debuts while theaters are dominated by big-budget works based on existing IP, making AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER yet another culprit. It’s safe to say that the film will have to work very hard to surprise and challenge viewers’ expectations and ambivalence.

Of course, industry-giant and returning director James Cameron was well-aware of these challenges during the making of the film. During the press conference, Cameron spoke extensively on the legacy of the first film and how it influenced the thematic approach for the second. “I think it’s important for a sequel to honor what the audience loved about the experience the first time. But also to… get them off-balance… do things that they don’t expect,” explained Cameron. “I was inspired by the fact that both Zoe and Sam are parents, and I’m a parent of five, and so we wanted to get into the family dynamics, and the responsibilities of having kids.”

In the film, human-turned-Na’Vi Jake Sully, played by Sam Worthington, has two adolescent sons with Zoe Saldaña’s Na’Vi princess Neytiri. The new characters are Lo’ak, played by Britain Dalton, and Neteyam, played by Jamie Flatters.

Courtesy 20th Century Studios

On portraying Jake as a father, Worthington drew parallels between his character’s own journey fitting into Pandora as a human and an adolescent’s journey finding their place in the world. “Jake’s journey has always been taking these parallels of where does he fit into this world, and finding something worth fighting for? And in one his teenage boys are going through that as well,” said Worthington. “Teenage boys are displaced, and like most teenagers they’re trying to figure out where they’re in the world, and unfortunately Jake is the perfect person to help them.”

Saldaña commented on how navigating fear as a parent influenced the way she played Neytiri as a mother. “In my personal life, when I became a parent, fear entered my realm. The fear of losing something that you love so much… to surrender to that, and then to bring forward, you know, fruits of that love… that presents the challenge for her.”

Additionally, Jake and Neytiri adopt a third child named Kiri, who was birthed by the pregnant avatar that Sigourney Weaver’s character from the first film, Grace, was inhabiting before her death. The character of Kiri allows Weaver to return to the project and expands upon Jake Sully’s relationship with Grace, inverting their parental dynamic from the first film. Also returning from the dead as a Na’Vi character is Stephen Lang, whose human character was the primary antagonist in the first film.

“I loved that I had the opportunity to play someone I consider a real adolescent in most ways… I was very honored, too, and thrilled, excited, terrified,” said Weaver. “I went to high school classes and a few other things, so I could hear the pitch of their voices, and there’s a big range of who an adolescent is between twelve and fifteen. But once I saw that I was like, okay, I can let Kiri come out.”

Courtesy 20th Century Studios

Adding to the theme of motherhood is Kate Winslet’s new character, Ronal, who is part of the water-dwelling Metkayina tribe. “Kate’s character…” said Cameron, “…goes into battle six month’s pregnant… and she does not hesitate.” Winslet, who played the lead role of Rose in Cameron’s 1997 hit Titanic, expressed that what drew her to the role was the emotional and physical strength of Ronal.

“Jim has always written for women, characters who are not just strong, but they are leaders, they lead with their heart, with integrity, they stand in their truth, they own their power,” said Winslet. “They have physical power that is admirable, and to be part of that… it was just so flattering that Jim asked me.”

The film, set to release in theaters on December 16th, 2022 across the US, has already received positive reviews from critics after early viewings. I may be in the minority here, but personally, I’m thrilled to be returning to Pandora and swimming with the Na’Vi once again.

Vidya Palepu
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