The Tree of Life is a period drama fantasy movie directed by Terrence Malick and starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain. The film will be released sometime in 2010.
Update – The trailer of Tree of Life is now online:
TREE OF LIFE
Here’s a first look at Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain in the Tree of Life movie:
Plot
“At the end of the 1960’s in Texas, Jack O’Brien (Sean Penn), the the eldest of three brothers, just lost his younger brother. And he remembers his childhood. The Tree of life traces the evolution of an eleven-year-old boy in the Midwest. At first all seems marvelous to the child. He sees as his mother (Joana Going)does, with the eyes of his soul. She represents the way of love and mercy, where the father (Brad Pitt) 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.”
This plot doesn’t tell as much as one may think: the Tree of Life hasn’t been really unveiled yet. According to the rumor, Director Terrence Malick would mix some mysterious prehistoric scene or something like that to the film! Sounds a bit far fetched, but it could bring a great surprise.
Hope to get more information about the Tree of Life movie soon!
:)
This is the film that I first heard of in 1981. John Sayles told me that Malick was planning something ‘cosmic, too cosmic even for Hollywood’ – after his successes with ‘Badlands’ and ‘Days of Heaven’. And because I have given my life to the cinema, and recognised Malick as the art’s greatest ever poet, the film acquired an awe-inspiring, mythical status in my life.
I have always, secretly, wanted there to be a that would knock ‘Citizen Kane’ off its lofty perch as the apogee of cinema, not – heavens, not – in any disrespect for Welles or his mastepiece, but to demonstrate that, in spite of its onerous responsibility to make money, the cinema is the greatest of the arts and it can be even greater.
So, I have been very worried, since the film went into production. If Malick’s fragile art misfired, it would count as a cultural disaster of inimaginable proportions. But I cannot express the unlimited joy and elation with which I was totally, totally overcome in seeing this trailer. I am shaking with emotion as I write this.
‘The Tree of Life’ is going to be IT, really IT. So, prepare yourselves for a life-changing experience.
The cinema is the greatest human cultural achievement, and its total master is Terrence Malick.
YES. YES YES YES YES.