The Tree of Life

 

The TREE of LIFE (12a)

Terrence Malick’s Palme d’Or winner, starring Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Jessica Chastain, opened in the UK and Ireland on July 8, distributed by Fox Searchlight.

Malick’s first film in six years, The TREE of LIFE is a hymn to life, excavating answers to the most haunting and personal human questions through a kaleidoscope of the intimate and the cosmic, from the raw emotions of a family in a small Texas town to the wildest, infinite edges of space and time, from a boy’s loss of innocence to a man’s transforming encounters with awe, wonder and transcendence.

London School of Theology students were given advance screening of the film and here are their reactions:

 

Steve Parker

An extraordinary series of stunningly beautiful images, visual and auditory poetry, and a series of big questions revolving around a family, relationships and faith. This film marries the cosmic and the individual in a way I’ve not seen since the end of 2001 (the movie, not the year!).

The film opens with a text from Job, the classic big questions of… Why do bad things happen to good people and does God allow them?

Perhaps the faith community will seize upon this film, but it begins by telling a creation story very much grounded in physics and biology. This might cause some problems but it could also make the case that creation took a lot of time just to set up the conditions for… humanity. This isn’t going to sit well with the Biblical literalist school although it might help others tell the creation story in a more accessible way. The fact is, we can’t have the God element without the origins of the universe. In the wider context of faith it’s key.

The premise of the film is that we have two tendencies, grace (living for others) and nature (the satisfaction of self). The mother and father figures portray this tension. Both see the world as the ‘real’ world. Perhaps this is the deep truth, that the world is what we see it as. For the father his concept of doing good is keeping to the rules, he tithes his money, but gets made redundant. The wife asks… Why? After the death of one of their 3 sons. Here we see the friends of Job and Job himself mirrored. Just as Job finds a solution, so does the mother.

The real story is the son, who grows up rebellious, who feels shame, and has no way of finding absolution. Many people find themselves in this place, and although we do see the younger son forgiving his elder brother for some cruelty there is no massive salvific redemptive act. The son echoes Paul as he ‘does what he hates’ (Romans 7:15). Yet somehow, as he grows up he feels his connection to more than just his family but creation itself. We see the family forced into moving house and the wife pointing towards relationship (love) as the highest goal in life (grace over nature). In later life the son finally manages to reconcile with his father. The pieces fall into place and the family (and a wider sense of humanity) are reunited.

The Tree of Life is not an easy film to watch, we’re not sure what’s real and what’s imagined sometimes. We feel the grief of the loss of a child, the overly assertive parenting of the father and the son’s search for meaning within the framework of the universe. Is it going to be a moneymaker? I doubt it, but I’m glad it was made, it’s not just visual and audio stimulation, it’s fuel for the soul. If you want entertainment, go and see something else. It you'd like to explore, wonder, marvel, feel, question, and think, it's the film for you.

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Dirk Hoffman

The movie starts off with a quote from Job 38, God's answer to Job's question for the reason of his suffering. Instead of a clear answer with several causes, there is simply a counter question: “Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? ...while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4,7 NIV). The first half of the film almost reads like an interpretation of these verses. Bombastic scenes with an amazing atmosphere describe the awesome beauty of universe. Mrs. O'Brian has to wrestle with the death of her son. Terrence Malick orchestrated a dialogue between the questions Mrs. O'Brian and the nature: roaring waters, stars and universes, cells and bacteria, life in the ocean and dinosaurs. There is a constant move between micro to macro, ancient and contemporary. This section is abruptly ending trough a meteorite, the end of the dinosaurs? Malick seems to retell the story of the earth and by doing so explains the first way of living which was introduced shortly in the beginning: the way of grace.

The way of grace is embodied by the Mrs. O'Brian, acknowledging her limits and trusting in God. But there is this awful question every believer has to face: where does evil come from, why did my sun die? Like the quote from Job, the film does not provide an answer but rather balances the view in providing the awestruck story of our universe.

The second way is the way of nature, personified in the father's attitude to teach his boys to be strong and fight for their rights. Nevertheless, Mr. O'Brian himself does present an ambiguous picture through his love for music and his insistence on going to church. Mr. O'Brian's way forces him to fight for his right and this permanent battle during work finally reaches his home: failure at work results in divisions at home. He is hot-tempered and screams at his children and wife. His ultimate defeat is the loss of his job but interestingly this brings a change into his life. He realises that his family is more valuable than the constant struggle for success and recognition at work.

The story about the question of evil and the two ways to handle life is set within the framework of the oldest son's life. Jack is outliving the struggle between the two ways that his parents presented. In remembering the early death of his brother he relives his family's life and the struggle between his parents until he is finally able to be reconciled with his past, his father.

Terrence Malick created an impressive movie about struggles in life, namely the evil we face in our every day life. The interaction between music and images creates a stunning atmosphere which pays off the missing verbal dialogues. Words are scarcely used, hence the significance of each word is increased. Malick's work is not an easy movie but demands a lot from the audience. However, whoever invests time and intellect in order to follow the story will gain deeper insights in his own life and how oneself tries to master his life. As in the case of Job, there won't be always answers to our questions but the way of grace, the knowledge of someone who is higher than me but still for me allows to live a life which is not permanently consumed by the struggle of nature.

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Sarah Pillow

The Tree of Life will no doubt divide its audience. There is not such a huge plot and little dialogue is offered. However this is the beauty of the film as it definitely offers some stunning visuals that reflect the beauty of creation and life, while also addressing, somewhat poignantly, human questions about life and the purpose of it...all however from Terrence Malick’s viewpoint.

None can deny that it is anything less than a thought provoking film. The big questions addressed throughout of ‘where are you God’ and ‘why God’, amidst the pains and struggles of life (with reference to the biblical story of Job) are ones that most Christians can relate to, and is indeed a biblical theme. By glimpsing some of this family’s struggles and one man’s reflection on his life, the audience can only reflect on their own. Yet the way Malick contrasts these questions with the films stunning visuals as well as the touching relationships between the mother and her sons offers some sort of an answer of purpose and hope.

Overall the film is primarily a visionary feast that portrays an array of human emotion; contrasting deep pain, anger and despair against beauty, life, innocence and hope. It is a beautifully creative and stunning film and the acting is first-class – all are authentic and genuine - I got emotionally attached to some of the family members making it all the more moving and real. However some parts of it were not my ‘cup of tea’ and a bit confusing.

It is a refreshing change from anything else out right now and parts did really get me thinking about life, faith and God. But if you are seeking an action packed, fast-paced film or are impatient, watch out, perhaps this isn’t the film for you..

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Taurai Bandawa

Overall this is an excellent piece of art, though I may not sit and watch this with my family or friends, I would
gladly watch it again for the sole purpose of admiring what is being expressed in the film.

Terrance Malick does well in his representation of how nature and grace influence the human life. The metaphor of
a 1950's Texan family in which the parents represent nature and grace and the children humanity is glorious.

Malick makes sure that at the beginning we know that nature and grace are polar opposites. Grace and Nature are
not polar opposites, nature is not what is expressed in Malick's presentation. It appears nature and grace are
perceived as two forces that we are dropped into at birth.

We are nature. Nature is not a separate force that influences our life, no we are part of nature we are a
component that completes the puzzle, without us nature would not be nature for it would be missing a segment of
it's identity. Grace is the otherworldly force that is independent of us, grace is that which comes from God,
grace does not contrast nature but rather grace engages with nature in an attempt to better it. Nature possess a
scar that only grace can mend.

They are not opposites. They are two forces that have engaged in a relationship that has prosperous results.

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Steve Creamer

This film belongs in a quiet little Art Gallery not a packed out cinema as it is a work of philosophy not entertainment. From the outset you are engulfed in inspiring and thought provoking imagery.

The films brilliance is found not in complex plot developments or detailed dialogue but in the raw expression of life's journey and the profound questions that arise from our realities. Brad Pitt’s performance was mesmerizing. Even in moments of silence and stillness he held my attention.

The question posed by the boy "why should I be good if you [God] are not" speaks both to our quest to understand the source of morality and of our perception that God should act in such a way that it fits our logic.

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Andy Kench

This is a brave, exciting and mind-boggling film of epic proportions with the big questions of life all addressed through narrative, poetry, Christian doctrine and some very conspicuous scenes taking us through the depths of time and space.

Beautifully shot and scored, this is a masterpiece of what cinema can do if the director is given the freedom and the audience bother to stay awake and do not demand sex scenes or car-chases to keep their attention throughout. The deepest issue at stake is about the difference yet convergence of love and fear depicted in the relationship between Brad Pitt's character and his boys, which our director skillfully tackles to great effect.

It's certainly not for everyone but for the more art-house favouring viewer who maybe suffers from the existential angst of our main character (at least once he's grown up) this will be a treat for the eyes, ears, mind and soul.

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Eve Connolly

‘The Tree Of Life’ is left open to ridiculous amounts of interpretation. As a Christian I found it bizarre to say the least and found myself constantly trying to clutch at vague biblical nuances in a bid to incorporate them into the storyline. The film claims to portray the movement of the act of creation from chaos into order. However someone with little knowledge of the structure of the Genesis narrative could be forgiven for thinking that creation was anything but ordered. The portrayal fails to show God’s dominion over creation, effectively eclipsing the very essence of God’s ordered nature.

I feel that ‘The tree of life’ is yet another way that the Christianity has been portrayed as something for the slightly peculiar who lacks the ability to engage with the reality of everyday life. In a time where so many poignant questions are being raised about who and where God is in a world marred with suffering and grief the producers and the famous cast of ‘The Tree Of Life’ had an amazing opportunity to really engage with these questions. It seems however such questions and realties were negated for visual effects.

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Rebekka Ziemann

I loved it, absolutely loved it!!! From the very beginning, starting of with these inexplicable shades of light, colour and movement, the bass-notes vibrating through the whole studio- wow. I can only think of it as a stunning piece of art, using all the available resources (music- rich and dramatic to simple and monotone, silence, light-effects, all that film, drama, music and art have to offer). I loved how it did not make use of speech so much as it emphasized more (or equally) on non-verbal ways of communicating. Maybe that's why I struggle to find words to describe my impression :-).

Trying to describe the film to a friend I called it a homage to life, done almost like a trailer of a lifetime. It was fascinating to see the boys' childhood memories flash by, with (almost) no explanation to it, but nevertheless telling the deepest truth about life: that it is love that matters, nothing else. At the moment where the Dad, having striven for success, wealth and prestige all his life, suddenly looses his job ("I've never missed a single day"), it is clear that his way of thinking did not bring the awaited result- there was no security in working hard (for him/his family). Opposed to that, as the family drives off in the car, the mother's voice speaks words of truth: "Unless you love, you life will fade away". It's a truth which she has embodied all her life, showing that love carries on, carries people through hardship and pain as well as happiness and wealth. These two stand in contrast (the theme of nature vs. grace) and Jack is torn between both ("Mother, Father, you wrestle inside of me.").

 

For more details about The TREE of LIFE click here