The Tree of Life

Director: Terrence Malick
Writer: Terrence Malick
Cast: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain, Jackson Hurst, Fiona Shaw
Theatrical Release Date: May 27, 2011 8:35 AM
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Festivals: Cannes Film Festival
Awards: 2012 Academy Awards Best Picture, 2012 Academy Awards Best Director, 2012 Academy Awards Best Cinematography
Criticwire: B+
On The Web IMDB Entry

Synopsis: Tree of Life is a period piece centered around three boys in the 1950s. The eldest son of two characters witnesses the loss of innocence. We trace the evolution of an eleven-year-old boy in the Midwest, Jack, one of three brothers. At first all seems marvelous to the child. He sees as his mother does, with the eyes of his soul. She represents the way of love and mercy, where the father tries to teach his son the world's way, of putting oneself first. Each parent contends for his allegiance, and Jack must reconcile their claims. The picture darkens as he has his first glimpses of sickness, suffering and death. The world, once a thing of glory, becomes a labyrinth. Framing this story is that of adult Jack, a lost soul in a modern world, seeking to discover amid the changing scenes of time that which does not change: the eternal scheme of which we are a part. When he sees all that has gone into our world's preparation, each thing appears a miracle precious, incomparable. Jack, with his new understanding, is able to forgive his father and take his first steps on the path of life. The story ends in hope, acknowledging the beauty and joy in all things, in the everyday and above all in the family -- our first school -- the only place that most of us learn the truth about the world and ourselves, or discover life's single most important lesson, of unselfish love.

trailers & clips

Reviews

Indiewire's Greatest Hits: The Top 10 Reviews From 2011

In an age when being first threatens to preclude being best, film criticism struggles like everything else to serve a purpose without pandering to the need to grab eyeballs. The heap of reviews I've written over the last 12 months, often under the extreme deadline pressures of film festivals, aren't...
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News

Oscar Nominees Added to Tugg Library

Want to see the Oscar-nominated films "The Tree of Life" or "Bullhead" in your neighborhood? Tugg them.
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iW Daily Recaps | 4 Stories Not to Miss for Wednesday

indieWIRE Recaps is a daily column that curates indie news and stories from around the film world. If you’d like to suggest an article, you can find us at editors@indiewire.com.
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The "Tree of Life" Press Conference and The Man Who Wasn't There

Outside the Palais Monday morning, the love for Terrence Malick was on the verge of turning into frenzy. Members of the press leapt over railings and used mosh-pit tactics in order to break through the crowd and run up the Palais steps. Scores of fans held handmade signs begging passersby for a tick...
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Cannes Clicks: Day 7 at indieWIRE and Around the Web

Each day at the Cannes Film Festival (May 11 - 22), indieWIRE is publishing an updated compilation of articles from indieWIRE, our blog network and other outlets.
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Indies at the Memorial Day Box Office: Will "The Tree of Life" Be Another "Inconvenient Truth"?

Memorial Day weekend at movies has never exactly been associated with independent film. From this year's "Kung Fu Panda 2" and "The Hangover Part II" to various "Pirates," "Shreks" and superheroes, it's one of Hollywood's most reliable weekends for massive returns on tentpole releases. But the speci...
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Daily indieWIRE Clicks: "Tree of Life" Potential B.O., "The Muppets" Tease Us & More

Today on indieWIRE we analyze the box-office prospects for "The Tree of Life," Anne Thompson gets up close and personal with Lars von Trier and much more.
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Box Office: "Conan O'Brien" Underwhelms; "Paris" Becomes Woody's Top Film Since 1986

"Conan O'Brien Can't Stop" couldn't quite connect with audiences this weekend. The very very well reviewed doc hit 24 screens in its debut frame, and the results were somewhat underwhelming.
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"Tree of Life" Tops Film Comment's End-of-Year Poll

Film Comment has announced its critics' list of the year's best films. From a list of critics including Roger Ebert, David Edelstein, Todd McCarthy, and Amy Taubin, Film Comment has compiled a list of the year's best films. Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life" to...
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3 Comments

| Reply
Roger J | May 23, 2011 8:54 AMReply

Standalone grades suck when there's no linked review. Boo, hiss!
www.indiewire.com | April 19, 2011 12:07 PMReply

The_tree_of_life.. OMG! :)
hotconflict | September 15, 2009 10:55 AMReply

What is the Tree of Life. There is a lot of Interest in the Sefirot or Kabalah interpretation. What does Islam and many ancient sufi mystics have to say about the Tree of Life. See Saleem Siddiqui in the New movie TREE of LIFE with Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. http://www.hotconflict.com/blog/2008/06/mystical-connection-between-sufi-islam-and-jewish-kabalah---tree-of-life.html