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
- Distributor: Fox Searchlight
- Festivals: Cannes Film Festival
- Awards: 2012 Academy Awards Best Cinematography, 2012 Academy Awards Best Director, 2012 Academy Awards Best Picture
- 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.
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reviews
indiewire review: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 impervious to this danger. However, looking back on the mos... MORE »
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3 Comments
Roger J | May 23, 2011
Standalone grades suck when there's no linked review. Boo, hiss!
www.indiewire.com | April 19, 2011
The_tree_of_life.. OMG! :)
hotconflict | September 15, 2009
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