https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jul/07/the-tree-of-life-
reviewhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-tree-of-life-2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXRYA1dxP_0
The link above is a link to the trailer for the film, The Tree of Life.
The tree of life is an American film created in 2011 by the director Terrence Malik. It was described as an “experimental epic drama film”. The film is about the origins and meaning of life through the view point of a middle-aged man and the memory of his childhood. His
family lived in 1950’s Texas. The film contains clips from his memory, interspersed with imagery of the origins of the universe and life on earth. The film was named the 7th greatest film since 2000 in BBC poll of 177 critics. The main story line throughout the film is the lessons that the oldest son, Jack learns whilst growing up alongside his two other brothers. The clips of his memories are interspersed with amazing images of nature and life. Some of the lessons and emotions that Jack learns about is jealousy, loss, lust and anger.
In a review by Robert Elbert he’s describes the film as “a film of vast ambition and deep humility, attempting no less than to encompass all of existence and view it through the prism of a few infinitesimal lives.” The film contains so much human emotion and feeling. When watching the film you immediately connect with it through your own experiences which is what makes the film so powerful.
Malik captures some of the most simplest events in life and portray them in an immensely impacting way. He uses his own memories of his home town and childhood to create portraits of everyday life. The film was inspired by two things, space and time, and spirituality. Malik is a christian and believes in the viewpoint of God creating the world. The film contains visuals suggesting the birth and expansion of the universe, the appearance of life and the evolution of species. The film contains elements of time ; one of the children dying. We also witness the oldest son grown into a middle aged man.The film also contains spiritual elements because Malik includes a scene of an afterlife , a desolate landscape where peopler seen recognising and greeting each other.
